Zen,

I prefer ibuprofen for most things, over aspirin or acetaminaphin (acetaminaphin does nothing for me for headaches, monthly blech, or anything else). Do be careful taking anything. Ibuprofen is safe, but not if you take too much. A runner friend of mine (a nurse - at the time she was the head nurse in a local ER) used to routinely take a bunch at a time, every single day, for running/skiing/biking related aches and pains. That was before the resulting internal bleeding. Can't remember exactly what happened, but it was not good (you'd think an ER nurse would know better ). Now she takes absolutely nothing for those aches and pains, headaches, etc.

Careful Zen - we love you! And your amazing sense of humor!

I don't know what is wrong with your back, so I'm probably off base, but have you tried icing? No, no - not that kind! I mean an ice pack!