You want relief from your pain -- fast. And you’re ready to work to keep it at bay. Use these 11 ideas to kick-start the process.

1. Seek solutions. There’s good reason to be optimistic. Even if your pain has been with you for a while, you can take steps to tame it. The first step is to find the cause. Your doctor can help you with that. Once you know what the problem is, you can start to chip away at it.

2. Slow your pace. "Very few tasks need to be completed in one sitting," says Brett Stacey, MD, medical director of the Comprehensive Pain Center at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. "Divide physical activities into small, easy-to-complete sections. For example, mow the front lawn one day and the back lawn the next."

3. Be a detective. Spy on your pain. When does it strike? What patterns does it have? What makes it worse? What makes it back down? Write down what you notice. These clues will help you find ways to feel better.

4. Tap into pet power. "Find distractions to take your mind off the pain and improve your mood," says Irene Wu, MD, assistant director of UCLA’s Pain Management Center. "For example, a lot of my patients have a pet. Walking the dog is not only a good distraction but also good exercise."

5. Breeze through trouble with better breathing. Caught up in stress? Get out of its trap. To take the edge off, shift your next few breaths. Inhale slowly and then exhale even more slowly. As you relax, you may have less pain.

6. Do the thing you want to avoid. If you think exercise is out of the question because of your pain, you’re missing out. Done right, activity actually eases pain, builds strength, and gives you more energy. Ask your doctor what’s OK for you to do. A physical therapist can show you how to do the moves.

7. Make your life simpler. Sometimes, you just need to make a few tweaks to your daily routine. For example, if arthritis makes it hard for you to cook, look for kitchen devices that make it easier to chop, stir, and open jars and cans.

8. Mind your mood. Depression or anxiety can worsen your pain. Talk to your doctor if you feel down for two weeks or longer. Lifestyle changes (such as exercise) and counseling can make a big difference. Some people may also need medicine.

9. Ask about natives. "Alternative treatments such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation may help ease back pain, but they don’t work for everyone," says Steven P. Cohen, MD, professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "Talk with your doctor to help decide if such methods are for you."

10. Shift your sleep position. A good night’s rest in a healthy position can soothe your pain. Sleep on your side on a medium to firm mattress to relieve some back pain. You may also want to upgrade your pillow.

11. Be a quitter. If you smoke, make it your top priority to stop. It will help your lower back pain (and help your whole body) if you kick the cigarette habit.