Depending on your brace interferes with muscle stengthening. I feared taking mine off and weaned myself gradually. Now, after 5 years, I still where it when I know my back won't do well in certain situations, like sitting and painting all day. I can go all day with the brace on but when it is off, the pain becomes almost intolerable.
I wore the brace for a full 6 months whenever not in bed (or the shower). I even loosened it and slept with it on too but that was a personal preference.
I don't think it's for stabilizing as much as for prohibiting accidental wrong movements. I misstepped after just 3 weeks and twisted my body trying to grab onto something. The brace kept my back rigid.
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3 level Prodisc adr S1-L3, Oct 12, 2005
Dr. B in Bogen, Germany
Severe nerve damage in left leg, still working on it
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