Eight out of 10 American adults suffer from low back pain at least once. Often, this type of pain goes away by itself in a matter of days.

Here are some tips to speed the process along:

Ease up on exercise while you're in pain, but otherwise try to stick with your normal schedule of activities.
If you feel you must, it's OK to stay in bed for a day or two - but no longer. Extended bed rest weakens muscles and reduces flexibility.
Try over-the-counter pain relievers, including ibuprophen, acetaminophen, or aspirin.
Apply heat or cold - whichever seems to help - to your back for 20 minutes at a time. Many people use cold packs within the first 48 hours, then switch to heat packs or hot showers.
It may help to lie on your back with your knees raised or resting on a pillow. Or you might try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your bent knees.

Call your doctor at once if low back pain is sudden or severe, or if it is accompanied by:
bladder or bowel problems
vomiting and/or fever
radiating pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness in arms or legs.