My back has been tightening up and it is becoming really painful. I am trying to avoid the couch and am going to set up an appointment for a masage therapest next week but until then is it safe to taking ibuprofen a few times a day?

why is it tightening up? Is this something you deal with regularly or have in the past? Has it been provoked by any certain situation?

It has happend before but this time it seems to not be giving up. I am guessing it is due to spending too much time working on my laptop on the couch. I have been loggin lots of hours for grad school we have a cousy couch

You can safely take up to 800mg every 8 hours, but I don't recommend taking that much. Take the smallest dose that provides you with relief. The most important thing you must do is TAKE IT WITH FOOD! Or you'll end up like me... I have stomach ulcers from too much Motrin use. I've taken it for years for back pain, and didn't always eat with it. Now I'm dependent on drugs like Pepcid and Nexium to keep my stomach from hurting because the Motrin tore up my stomach lining. It's not intended for long term use... (I had been taking it for over 8 years.) So just be careful. It's also safe to alternate with Tylenol for better pain control. (Tylenol is safe on your stomach.) When I'm hurting, I'll take 800mg Motrin every 8 hrs, and Tylenol 650mg every 4 hrs. That way you get pain relief around the clock.

Try heat. Hot tub/whirlpool would be best, but soaking in a hot bath is great too (try adding 2 cups of epsom salt). One of those heat/massage inserts you put on your chair can be great too.

I got some lower back spasms last week working my back/biceps. I did an epsom salt bath and finished my workout later that day.