Have you ever bent over to pick up something only to experience a pain like someone shoved a hot poker into your low back and then started pulling your muscles apart? Yeah, most of us have felt that at some point. Hopefully, it never happens to you, too, but if it does, here is what you do.

1. Stop and Breathe. You are probably feeling like your life is about to end. Most of what you are experiencing is a muscle spasm. Your back muscles are trying to protect you but they have dramatically overreacted. If you can, stay where you are and do your best to let the muscles settle down. Deep breaths and relaxation will dramatically speed up the process. Have some water and wait it out.
2. Stretch backward. Typically, when a back goes “out” the disc in between the vertebrae is stuck in a bulging position. Bending backward will help squish that disc back to the center and will also shorten the spasming muscles. Go easy with this. Gently push into a cobra position if you are on the floor. Otherwise, brace yourself with your hands on your backside and carefully arch backward. Do it several times in a row and often thereafter. Here is an old video as a demonstration.
3. Walk, Lie Down, Do NOT Sit. When the spasm has settled down, walk a bit. Movement will help get the blood moving which helps to settle the muscles and get the disc moving. You do not want to overdo this. Move a bit and then lie down on your back with the knees bent. The firmer the surface, the better. Sitting will be counterproductive. When you sit, you increase the pressure on the disc and stretch the muscles of the lower back.
4. Ice. Icing helps reduce inflammation. Typically, when a back goes out, there is inflammation. The quicker you can get rid of the inflammation, the better. It is not completely out of the question to use heat. Heat will soften the spasming muscles and allow you to move. However, heat also brings more inflammation. If you decide you cannot move without heat, use it, but then move around for a while and then follow up with ice. Both heat and ice should only be used for a maximum of 20 minutes. For ice, the skin needs to get cold enough to go numb to be successful. Here are the stages of ice, so you know you are doing it right. 
5. Go See Your Chiropractor. Once the spasms have settled down a bit, the inflammation is under control, and you are able to move, it is time to get the joints working properly and the disc back to a good shape. This is what chiropractors do best. An adjustment will get all of the joints in the area to move correctly which will allow the disc to heal properly. Get in as soon as possible before scar tissue makes that first adjustment a painful one.

***Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash