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Back pain can be an incredibly debilitating thing. It can keep you from doing the things that you want to do and from enjoying your life to the fullest. However, there are some things you can do to help ease back pain. Check out these tips for ways to put an end to that pesky, painful backache.

Warm it up and stretch it out

Alternating heat with stretching is a great way to ease back pain. Tight muscles respond fairly well to heat, as the warmth relaxes those muscles, easing the pain you’re experiencing. When you switch from heat to stretching, you’re helping to further relax those tight muscles and bring yourself relief. **Note: Don’t apply heat to an injury until over 48 hours have passed, as it could increase swelling and slow down healing.

Stand up straight

Posture is a huge factor in back health. While sitting, be sure that you’re not slouching or slumping down, as this can put a lot of stress on your ligaments, disks, and muscles. The goal is for your spine to stay aligned all the time, which means that you may need to place some support in the small of your back and/or  behind your neck.

Apply ice immediately following an injury

In most cases, ice should be used instead of heat for the first 48 hours after a back  injury. Ice can help to reduce swelling and cut down on your recovery time. An added bonus is that ice can help to numb the pain. The best way to apply ice is to warm up a towel in hot water, wring it out, and then wrap the ice pack in the warmed towel. And only leave the ice on your injury for twelve to fifteen minutes—no longer.

Those are just three ways that you can help say goodbye to your back pain. What are your favorite ways of easing backaches?