Have you ever experienced a sudden “twinge” in your back after picking up a pencil from the floor? You thought you were ok until you realize you can’t hardly get up out of bed the next morning and find yourself limping to your car. Odds are, you are having an acute attack of back pain.
Icing — Should be administered as soon as possible (for the case above, as soon as the “twinge” was felt). Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and repeat every hour during the first 24-48 hours.
Rest — We’re not talking about complete bed rest. Rest means avoiding positions or activities that provoke or aggravates the pain. Gentle movement within the limits of pain actually enhances the healing process.
Medicines — Acute pain is mediated by a lot of inflammation so it makes sense to take anti-inflammatories. It should be taken regularly as prescribed or as indicated in the bottle (if it is over-the-counter).