If you've ever strained your back, you know that on a scale of 1 to 10, the pain ranks at a 692.

And you can think of nothing better than having someone deliver ice packs, ibuprofen, and the latest issue of your favorite magazine to your bed. But the people you live with shouldn't wait on you for days. It may feel like the right thing emotionally, but it's the wrong thing physically. Bed rest can weaken muscles, upping the risk of further injury and pain.

Statistically speaking, married people with back pain suffer two and a half times longer than single people -- perhaps because attentive spouses encourage a pattern of repetitive self-injury by playing nursemaid and pampering their patients. Staying in bed for longer than 48 hours is all it takes for back muscles to weaken -- which invites more trouble. In order to recover from strain, muscles need to grow stronger and stay active. The only way to do that is by moving them, even if it's only a little bit at first. The best method: Walk around the house. Don't push it, but don't give up. Step by step, the muscles will gradually strengthen, not stiffen.