When, and when NOT, to wear my BACK BRACE?
 

When should I wear it?

When should I NOT wear it?

In Germany, it felt stabilizing to wear it while trudging through the snow.

I don't remember Zeegers telling me to wear it 24/7: only "the first 6 months, and afterwards on days when you need it."

Sometimes it feels quite helpful: mainly when I go outside for a walk or a short car trip to the bank, etc.

It does NOT feel good when I'm already "flared" up, or having just stood up from a sitting or laying down position.

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.

similar problem with my neck brace
 

not to mention that it would cause pressure on my arteries in my throat and give my headaches. i would have to loosen it sometimes. even now after a year frpm surgery i need to wear off on for an hour or so to give me some stress relief. but i caution anyone on wearing to long. you need to build your muscles back up. you may become dependant on it over time...talk to your docotr about trying to ween yourself off it an hour each day.