Back conditioning exercises

I've had some occurrences over the years where I put out my lower back bad enough that I could barely stand or move afterward - and it took a major muscle relaxant plus four days to recover from, too. Absolutely no fun, ugh!

In the course of dealing with my flakey back, I was sent to physical therapy, where they gave me some stretching and conditioning exercises to strengthen my lower back and leg muscles to better support my spine. When I'm consistent at doing the exercises (which I generally am) it's less likely that I'll have a problem, so I believe they've helped me.

Some of the exercises are detailed in this article from livestrong.com, so you may want to try some, too. In moderation of course - take time working into them and evaluate which work well and avoid any that don't.

Natural analgesics

Here's an interesting article from livestrong.com that showcases some pain-fighting spices and foods. As always, consume in moderation, watch for allergic sensitivity, and realize that none of these are a substitute for medical attention if necessary.