Article: If you are really suffering from morning backaches and are looking for fast pain relief, take OTC pain medication, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. Always take the recommended dosage specified on the label. If available, you may also try rubbing ibuprofen gel on your back to relieve aches and pains. Look for ibuprofen gel at your local drugstore. Ice can help to reduce any inflammation and soreness on your back. Use an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. Place the ice pack at the base of your spine for five minutes. You can do this while sitting or lying in bed. You should follow up the ice pack with twenty minutes of heat. This could be a heat pack that you warm up in the microwave or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. Place the heat pack at the base of your spine to help reduce inflammation. You can get topical treatments over-the-counter at your local drugstore or through a prescription from your doctor. Popular topical treatments for back pain include products like Tiger Balm, BenGay, and Icy Hot. You should not use topical treatments if you are pregnant, nursing, younger than 10 years of age, or have sensitive skin. Senior citizens should also use caution when applying topical treatments to their skin.  You should also never use topical treatments on open wounds or broken skin as you can develop mild to serious chemical burns due to the ingredients in some topical treatments. Topical treatments can come in several forms, from gels and foams to creams and roll on sticks. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns before using topical treatments on your back aches. Most back pain will go away after within a week, though you may experience bouts of back pain if you do not make lifestyle changes (such as doing exercise) or sleep position changes.  If your back aches do not subside in the mornings despite the use of stretching and home remedies, you should see your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you try physical therapy or massage therapy for your back pain. She may also run tests to determine if your back pain is a symptom of a more serious medical issue.  Your doctor may also be able to recommend a chiropractor. You can then make an appointment with a chiropractor to help release the stress and tension in your back. Back pain that occurs after a night of sleep may also be due to trigger points or muscle knots. You may want to see a health professional who is trained in trigger point therapy. The health professional will poke and prod your back muscles to see if any of those knots are contributing to your pain.

What is a summary?
Take over-the-counter pain medication. Apply an ice pack on your back for five minutes at a time. Use topical treatments on your back. See your doctor if your back aches last longer than a few weeks.