Having been in two car accidents, I've definitely had my share of back pain. The advice everyone has already shared has been really good, especially seeking out help from a chiropractor.
In addition, might I suggest some stretching as well. While there are probably a zillion different stretches, the ones that I've found to work the best at alleviating back pain include ...
1) putting your hands on your hips, your legs shoulder-width apart, and then gently leaning backwards & pushing your hips forward. Perform this stretch in a controlled manner & hold for 15 seconds & then return to the starting position. Repeat 2-3X
2) with legs shoulder-width apart & arms relaxed by your sides, slowly lean forward, letting your arms fall in front of you. Continue to lean forward & towards the ground until you feel a gentle stretch in the back of your back. Your legs should be straight but your knees should not be locked. Hold this position for 15 seconds and then slowly rotate your hips & bring yourself back to the starting position. Repeat 2-3X.
3) with your arms out & parallel to your shoulders (using a long think object such as a broomstick if possible) & legs shoulder-length apart, gently twist your body to one side without move your legs or hips (keep them facing forward & still if possible). Twist in one direction until you feel a gentle stretch in your back. When you do, hold it for about 10 seconds and then gradually twist in the other direction until you again feel that gentle stretch in your back. Slowly return to the middle & then repeat 3X.
I hope that these help you!!
AlphaChiohmy, might I also recommend purchasing a magic bag type thing or even a hot woater bottle that you could heat up & then place on a towel under the small of your back while you lay down (on your back). Lying down & gentle clutching your knees to your chest (as weird as it sounds, kind of like the position you see on tv when someone is about to give birth) also can help to ease the pain.
A word of caution, please be careful about taking painkillers & muscle relaxants - while they can definitely help & offer relief in the short term, remember that pain is our bodies way of letting us know that something is slightly out of whack. By continually masking the pain, it's quite possible to not notice any changes in pain that could indicate either improvement or a sign of something serious.
Phew! Sorry that this posting is sooo long, but as soon as I saw the words back pain, I just felt compelled to write this post ... back pian sucks & seems to affect everything you do!
Feel better soon
Jen
AGD - Delta Zeta '97