Can I sit w/out my brace?

[jcrowder]

I'm unclear on something. If i am sitting still like watching tv or crocheting or something very sedentary, do i have to wear the brace? It's a clamshell rigid brace and i'm supposed to wear it all the time when out of the bed. I asked the nurse and she said that they don't want you to sit w/out it because that may lead to you being "lax" in wearing it and you become careless. What do ya'll think? I'm so much more comfortable sitting on the couch w/ the thing off.

 

[SpineAZ]

Yes, in most cases you are to wear it ANYTIME you are upright for any period of time. So if you are going to the kitchen for a snack and then laying back down, no need to put it on. But if you are even going to sit for 5 minutes while waiting for your toast to cook you must have it on.

Sitting without it can jeopardize your recovery, healing and fusion. It's expected that you are often uncomfortable wearing it, but you have to find a chair that makes it comfortable. We have one rocking chair that made sitting tolerable. I was not able to sit on our couch for the first three months because it make the brace very uncomfortable.

 

[ibake&pray]

LOL...we all were more comfortable without it on. That's not the purpose of it tho-to make you uncomfotable. It's to help you heal.

Here is the way my surgeon put it to me. IF you are laying in bed you don't need it on. (Although I did wear it when I caught a bug and was having vomiting and diarrhea at the same time..but i digress.) If you ARE NOT laying in bed, you have the brace on-no exceptions. I even showered with it on at first due to the severity of my surgery.

So the answer is no, you may not sit without it on. sorry!

 

[Precious55]

I would say to ask your doctor when you see him again. I have one of those hard shell braces that stops me from bending, twisting etc... My Neurosurgeon and Orthopedic surgeon who did the fusion said to wear it while sitting, walking, standing, but no need to wear it when laying down or showering (when showering just have it within arms reach so you can put it on as soon as you get out of the shower). One of the purposes of wearing the brace when you are walking is so that the fusion is protected. Some surgeons don't recommend you wear a brace if you have had hardware put in, because they feel that" is" your brace, but other surgeons want you wearing the brace no matter what. I had a double fusion at L 3/4 & L 4/5, and had instrumentation with bone graft and have to wear the brace. I also have soft bones because of Osteoporosis. What ever you doctor wants you to do, please do it, because you don't want to go through this again if you don't have to.:wave: