The over-the-counter medicine named Aleve is actually generic Naroxen. In the old days, when someone "threw out their back", the physician would commonly prescribe Naproxen.

The reason Naproxen works so well is it is not just a headache medicine but an anti-inflammatory. In your back are tiny rope-like muscles in the interior and these are called "intrinsic back muscles.

When you work outside and are not used to it, the bending over, twisting and turning while stooped over, then causes tiny tears in these intrinsic bak muscles.

If you are lifting weights, say doing tricep presses on a universal gym, and then somebody yells and waves and you look over your shoulder while doing the press, you are liable to "throw out your back" by tearing these muscles.

If you are sitting in the car in the front, and are lazy and reach back to grab something that fell to the floor mats in the back, you are liable to fray an intrinsic back muscle.

Even with just standing during a stressful situation, say visiting a sick friend in the hospital, who is dying, then can cause such lower back tension, that it will strain your back.

In all.of these cases, having a little Naproxen which is inexpensive versus the name brand of Aleve, will reduce that inflammation.

In a survival situation, wearing a heavy backpack, you sure better have some Naproxen in your first aid kit. It may keep you going when you would quit otherwise.