When a person overexerts themselves, it is common for them to experience back pain, mostly in the lower part of the back.  Before you consider surgery, think about what you can do on your own to help solve the problem. Then, maybe you can escape not only the extra pain involved in healing but also the huge heart attack you are bound to have when you see what the bill does to your wallet.  Here are a few tips you might be able to use to help avoid the scalpel.

1. If you have a minor amount of pain in your lower back, try using an over the counter pain reliever, like Ibuprofen or Tylenol.  This may be all that is needed to help the pain go away.
2. Applying hot and cold packs alternatively can also help relieve the discomfort.  Apply the cold packs first, leaving them on for a few minutes and then taking them off.  After applying cold presses for a day or two, apply a heat press, or heating pad.  The heat will help with blood flow.
3. Try doing a few lower back pain exercises.  In other words exercises that help alleivate lower back pain.  Walking, or stretching exercises are best when recovering from a back strain.
4. DO NOT do toe touches, leg lifts or sit ups, as these lower back pain exercises are proven to aggravate your discomfort.
5. Do, walk a round, staying in bed or on a couch can worsen your condition.  Staying in one position could make you stiffen up making you even more sore than you already are.
6. Sleep with a pillow between or under your knees. Doing this will help align your spine, it will also stop you from turning so much in your sleep.  Extra back twists will only cause more soreness in the morning.

The above tips may not help if you have a history of back problems. They may only stop the pain for a short amount of time.  Recurring lower back pain problems sometimes don’t respond to very well to exercise.  In these cases, the matter should be taken up with your doctor or specialist, in order to determine if this is something that can be taken care of naturally, or if the problem has passed that point and surgery must be considered.