At some point, almost everyone has back pain.

But the pain affects every one of us differently.

What really hurts for one  person may not bother another.

If you're like most people, when it hurts, you're willing to do whatever  you can to feel better.

Here are five easy ways to take care  of yourself when you have back pain.

One: Heat or ice. Heat can help,  but some people prefer ice.

Try whatever works best for you.

Two: Keep moving as you normally would.

It may seem strange, but with back pain, moving is better than  sitting around or lying down.

Three: Try nonsteroidal  anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen. NSAIDs  seem to work best for back pain.

But if you can't take NSAIDs, you  can try acetaminophen instead.

Four: Time. Most pain gets better with time.

It will probably hurt just a little  bit less day by day and week by week.

How long will depend on how you were hurt.

Five: Massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation  by a chiropractor or other health professional.

Now, these ideas work differently for everyone, but many people feel better during and  for a little while after these sessions.

Now, sometimes pain is your body's way of  warning you that something may be wrong, so here are a few things to watch for.

Call your doctor if you have new or  worse numbness or weakness in your legs; or if you lose bladder or bowel control; or if you have new or increased back  pain with a fever and painful urination.

Get emergency help right away  if you also have chest pain or other heart attack  symptoms with your back pain.

And get emergency help if there are signs of  spinal damage after an injury from a car crash, a fall, or a direct blow to the spine.

These signs of spinal damage may include severe  back or neck pain or being unable to move.

Luckily, when back pain happens, you can usually  care for yourself to heal and feel better.

So what are those five things  you can do to feel better?

They are heat or ice; movement; massage, acupuncture, or  spinal manipulation; NSAIDs; and time.

Your back hurts now, but with care  and a little time, it will get better.

Have patience and be kind to yourself.

And if you have questions, you  can always talk to your doctor.