Back pain is extraordinarily common. Statistics suggest that four out of every five adults will suffer some sort of back pain during their lives. Do not let this problem overwhelm you and try these tips first. With any luck, you can eliminate the back pain yourself.

Seek out firm mattresses that will aid in alleviating your back pain. Most doctors agree that a mattress that is too soft is bad for your back. A firm mattress is a better choice, unless it is too firm, which can also cause back pain just as much as a soft mattress. You may need to try out many mattresses before finding the one that is right for you.

Most chiropractors will not be able to work you in for 24 hours or more, so while you wait for your appointment you need to find a way to sit or lay comfortably. Try lying flat on your back with your knees bent to take some pressure off your back. This position can make the tension in your back less severe by helping to support your tendons and muscles.

If your job requires long periods of sitting, get up and move around often. By stretching out your legs during regular periods of time, you are also stretching out your back muscles, which helps ease back pain and other cumulative compression injuries.

If you have back pain, getting stressed about it will just aggravate it further. You need to learn to relax so that you do not increase your chances of having a muscle spasm. Make yourself comfortable and use heat packs on your back to help with the pain.

Try to relieve sudden back spasms by laying in a comfortable position with no pressure on your spine. This comfortable position will decrease the stress that is on your back. If another position is more comfortable, use it. Any position that keeps your spine straight and feels comfortable can help reduce your back pain.

Try to remove caffeine from your body to fight your back pains. Caffeine has been proven to trigger back spasms and cause inflammation in your joints and muscles. Switching to decaf may give you some back pain relief.

Having tried everything you know to fix your back and you are still feeling pain, consider going to a chiropractor. The chiropractor will take x-rays and discuss a treatment plan with you. Your pain will go away slowly but surely.

One good way to avoid back pain is to avoid situations that cause back spasms. Included in the list of possible instigators are sleep deprivation, tension, low levels of sodium, and the consumption of caffeinated beverages. If you encounter a back spasm, you can use heat on the painful area and rest until it gets better.

You have read about how common back pain is, and sometimes it's about finding what is causing you pain instead of jumping to the doctor right away. Take the advice that this article has given you, and make sure you are always taking good care of your back every day.