Traditionally, the most common treatment to relieve back pain was bed rest.
A person complaining of extreme back pain would end up hospitalized, essentially being placed on forced bed rest.
A lot of orthopedic problems, sore arms, broken wrists, and strained ankles were treated with traction, casts and slings that mobilized the injury for several months.
However, such kind of back pain relief treatment is no longer suitable for athletes who can't afford to wait several months for their back pain to recover and then begin a long recovery process to re-strengthen the weak muscles.
Instead, the focus is now on "enabling the back pain sufferer moving as soon as possible".
In addition, now you can even relieve the back pain on your own, without enlisting the help of a physician.
One of the most important points to remember when applying first aid remedies for back pain is to use ice then followed by heat.
This is because right after an injury, there will be inflammation.
You want to reduce that inflammation by applying ice to the injured area.
Ice makes the blood vessels in that area constrict, which reduces blood flow and reduces initial swelling.
However, you should start to use heat after 48 hours, to increase the flow of blood to the affected area, which will increase healing.
A good tip for relieving back pain is to take several paper cups, fill them with water and place them in the freezer.
Once they are frozen, peel back the paper edge, leaving a paper handle.
Then you can use the ice to apply the sore area for five minutes at a time.
Another effective way to relieve back pain is through the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
You can easily find these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) at the local drug stores or departmental stores.
The most common NSAIDS are ibuprofen products like Nuprin or Advil.
If you are allergic to them, it is advisable that you try naproxyn sodium which is found in products like Aleve.
If you have an attack of back pain, start the medication and keep taking it for a few days as directed on the bottle.
This will provide a constant level of the drug in your body.
It is less effective to take a couple of pills, let them wear off, and the next day start again.
It should be highlighted that drugs can only help to relieve back pain by reducing the pain and allowing you to begin flexibility exercises that relax the muscle.
An attack of back pain is a signal from your body to your brain that you are over-exerting yourself.
In this case, the best way to relieve the back pain is to stop what you're doing immediately.
For instance, if you are playing golf, you should stop swinging.
Instead, you should walk back into the clubhouse and take a rest there.
If your back strain is severe enough, you may end up in bed.
However, you should limit your bed rest to two days only.
This is because any more inactivity may cause the muscles to weaken, become less flexible and less resistant to movement.
If your back pain is so severe that you have to stay in bed for more than two days, you should consult a physician immediately.