In similar rifles the difference in recoil between the '06 165gr and 7-08 139 gr is like night and day. The '06 will recoil noticably more. I've have neck surgery in '89 (C3&C4). Except for some arthritis, I have no problems. I shoot everything from .17s up to 375 H&Hand my MLs, 3 1/2" shotguns and I've even shot my cousin's 460 WM. My neck has stayed intact. (Can't say the same for my brains). Listen to your Dr. May be all you might need is time to heal and get back to business as usual.