The last time I had back pain, I heard the doctor use the term “conservative treatment.” What does that mean?

In the medical world, conservative treatment is usually any treatment that is not invasive or surgical. That means, nothing is inserted into your body and no surgery is performed.

In the case of treating a neck injury, conservative treatment could mean physiotherapy, medications, exercise, heat/cold treatments, or bracing to keep your neck steady.

Unless it is urgent that surgery be done, as can be in some cases, conservative treatment is usually among the first options.