[Michelle]

The brace is to be used "when patient is up and about". I log roll onto my side, sit up by pushing up sideways while swinging my legs off the bed. Then I put on the brace. In the shower, I have a shower chair, so no, the brace does not get a shower. I never asked if I could stand long enough to shower without the brace and no shower chair. You don't have to wear it to sleep. It's really just there to remind you what motions you shouldn't do while moving around. It's mostly to let your body heal from the trauma of the surgery before having to support it itself. I was told I could even take it off while sitting, but don't do that much since I can't sit comfortably. Chuck says the brace has the hard parts of it removed at 6 weeks, but the soft corset stays for 12 weeks. I really find that it's not comfortable to be up without the brace. The brace is really the least of my worries at this point.