Health

Back, neck pain improve with conservative treatment

Back and neck pain are common, and most cases improve with conservative treatment, according to a University of Mississippi Medical Center article.

Dr. J.R. Woodall writes that patients typically respond to noninvasive approaches, though he cautions that persistent pain or new weakness should prompt further evaluation by a specialist.

Conservative care generally aims to relieve symptoms and restore function without surgery. Commonly recommended measures include activity modification, targeted exercise or physical therapy, short-term pain medications and other supportive therapies. These options help many patients return to normal activities and avoid more invasive procedures.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is the state’s academic medical center and publishes guidance intended to help patients and primary care providers recognize when to manage symptoms conservatively and when to seek specialist assessment. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Jon Myers

Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."