INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In most cases, your back pain will go away with home treatment and self-care. However, this isn’t always the case, and you may need additional treatment. Talk to your doctor to find out what type of treatment you need. Back pain typically causes the following symptoms:  Muscle aches. Dull, shooting, or stabbing pain. Back pain that gets worse when you bend, lift, stand, or walk. Back pain that feels better when you lie down. Try not to worry, but these symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition. Your doctor can figure out what’s causing your symptoms and can recommend the best treatments for you. See your doctor immediately to get the treatment you need. Tell your doctor how long you’ve been experiencing these symptoms. While you likely don’t need to worry, back pain can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition. If this is the case, you may need additional treatment. Visit your doctor or go to an emergency room if you have the following symptoms:  Bowel or bladder problems—especially if you can’t control urination. Fever. Back injury from a fall or accident. If you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, are older than 50, or have a bone or joint disorder, the back pain is more likely to get out of control if you don’t get a thorough exam. Additionally, if you have a family history of cancer, back pain may be an early sign of spinal, colon, or ovarian cancer. You’re probably fine, but it’s a good idea to get screened just to be safe. It’s rare for back pain to be a sign of cancer, but it’s worth checking out if the back pain came out of nowhere and wasn’t triggered by physical activity. Your doctor will review your symptoms and do a physical exam. Then, they may order some simple diagnostic tests. Most of these tests will be non-invasive and painless, but you may experience some discomfort. After the tests, talk to your doctor about your diagnosis.  For instance, your doctor will probably do an imaging test. You may need to complete an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound. In some cases, your doctor may inject you with a contrast dye so they can look for back problems, like a herniated disc, fracture, or spondylolisthesis. Your doctor can tell you about all of your treatment options. For minor back pain, exercise and over-the-counter pain relievers may be enough to help your back pain. However, they may prescribe additional medication or recommend physical therapy. For severe cases, your doctor may recommend you get surgery, but only as a last resort. Try not to worry because you have a lot of treatment options. Your doctor can help you figure out what’s best for you.

SUMMARY: See your doctor if your back pain lasts longer than 2 weeks. Visit your doctor if your pain affects your legs or you feel weak. Get immediate care if you develop severe symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you have a high risk for complications. Let your doctor examine you to diagnose the cause of your pain. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options for severe back pain.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Remove the rubber mats from your home or vehicle. Take them outside and shake them to remove loose debris. Clap mats together or hit them against a wall or railing to more thoroughly remove dirt, dust, stones, and more. Alternatively, you can use a pressure washer to blast away dirtiness from rubber mats. Turn on the water supply and spray all parts of the mats with water.  Rubber mats are usually designed to be durable. Mats that are flimsy, delicate, or that have a finished surface may be damaged by power washers. Power washers may spray water hard enough to blow away the mat. If this happens to you, use a clean, heavy item to weigh the mat down. Remember to clean under the item as well. Add a moderate amount of dish soap to a bucket of warm water. Mix the water until bubbles form. Wet the bristles of a stiff bristle brush with the cleaning solution. Scrub the mats firmly to remove stubborn buildup, spots, and so on.  While cleaning, pay close attention to nooks, crannies, and corners. Dirt and debris often collect in these places. Rubber that has a finished surface or is fragile may be damaged by brushes that are too stiff. Clean an out of sight area of the mat with the brush first to determine whether it’ll harm the rubber. Use your hose or power washer to rinse the mats entirely. Look over your mats one more time. Target remaining dirtiness with your scrub brush and cleaning solution. Then rinse away the cleaning solution one more time. Take a dry towel and wipe down your mats to remove water. When the mats are dry, return them to your car. If you don’t have a suitable towel available, air dry your mats. Refrain from drying your mats in the sun, as this can cause the rubber to weaken.
Summary: Remove loose dirtiness from the mats. Rinse the mats with the spray attachment of a garden hose. Scrub the mats with a brush and soapy water. Rinse the mats after cleaning. Dry mats with a microfiber towel.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Stay off your leg and do as little walking as possible.  Keep the knee elevated above your heart while lying down. Prop the knee and foot on pillows or on the arm of the couch. Use crutches if it hurts to straighten the leg or to put weight on it. If you need crutches for more than a few days, you should see a medical professional because it may be something serious enough to require more than home care. Apply ice directly on the swollen part of your knee for 10-20 minutes. Do this 3 times a day to reduce the swelling. You can also use a frozen cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables like peas instead of ice. If you have sustained an injury that results in a swollen knee, avoid placing heat on your knee. This includes hot packs, hot showers, or hot tubs. Wrap your knee in an elastic bandage to apply compression. This will help decrease the swelling. Try an elastic bandage with a fastener that sticks to the bandage so that you don't need clips.  You can purchase a compression bandage at a local pharmacy. Be careful not to wrap your knee too tightly. If you notice any numbness, tingling, odd coloring, or increased pain, your bandage is wrapped too tightly. Massage at a very gentle rate may help increase blood flow to your knee. If anything hurts, refrain from massaging the painful area. Try an anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen or ibuprofen - all are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).   When taking this type of pain reliever, be sure to carefully follow dosing instructions on the label. You can also try a topical painkiller. Talk with your pharmacist for proper application. You can also try a patch that contains the analgesic lidocaine for pain relief.

SUMMARY:
Rest your knee. Ice your knee. Avoid heat for the first 48 hours. Use a compression bandage. Gently massage your knee. Alleviate pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever.