What self-care can I do to ease back pain?

There are several things you can do to help ease back pain that comes on without an obvious cause and doesn’t feel too severe to stop you from going about your day:

• try soothing pain and swelling with an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel for 15 minutes at a time, a few times a day

• for joint stiffness, muscle spasms or period pain, try a hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel or cover

• take anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen 

• avoid staying in bed or sitting for long periods – gentle activity is often helpful

• get exercises from a physiotherapist for your specific kind of pain to do at home