Help! I threw out my back!

[Anonymous]

If it's still bothering you after three days, I'd try to get in to see an ortho. They can prescribe either a steroid or an anti-inflammatory (stronger than ibuprofen) that will help you get immediate relief for your trip, and then go see a PT for exercises when you get back.

You can go the ibuprofen and heat pack route but when I tweaked my bad really bad like that to the point where I was having trouble sleeping and walking for a while afterwards, I needed more intervention. Luckily after that first round of steroids and 6 weeks of PT, I've never had a recurrence. I started lifting weights multiple times a week and doing yoga at least once a week and that's solved my back issues.

[Anonymous]

Try ice and heat - see which works best.

You actually want to move - slow walking and stretching.