Our Top Picks for Back Braces for Degenerative Disc Disease
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- Learning About Back Braces
- Picking and Using a Back Brace
- Good and Bad of Back Braces
- Extra Help and Life Changes
- What Experts Say and Where to Learn More
Learning About Back Braces
Think of a back brace like a super strong belt that you wear around your waist to help your back. It's used when the back is hurt or after some surgeries. It can also be used to stop certain movements that could hurt your back.
There are different types of back braces that doctors might suggest for a condition called degenerative disc disease. This is when the discs in your spine, which are like cushions between your bones, start to wear out. These include really strong braces or semi-strong braces, and something called a decompression belt.
Picking and Using a Back Brace
Choosing the right back brace is like picking the right superhero costume - it needs to fit just right and give you the right powers! One of the best back braces for this condition is called the InoPedia™ Decompression Belt.
To use a lower back brace properly, imagine you're putting on a superhero belt. Wrap it around your back, connect the two ends across your belly, then adjust it so it's just tight enough but not too tight.
Good and Bad of Back Braces
Back braces can be like superheroes for people with degenerative disc disease:
- Pain Relief: They can help reduce pain by stopping certain movements.
- Better Posture: They can help you stand or sit straighter.
- Preventing More Injury: They can protect your back from getting hurt more.
But even superheroes have their weaknesses. If you use a back brace too much, your muscles might get weak and you might start to depend on it too much, which could make your spine condition worse.
Extra Help and Life Changes
Besides using a back brace, doing exercises with a trained healthcare provider can also help manage symptoms. Using heat or cold on your back can also be helpful.
While using a back brace, it's important to make some changes in your life like keeping good posture to prevent putting too much pressure on your disc.
What Experts Say and Where to Learn More
Here are some things doctors say about degenerative disc disease:
- "Degenerative disk disease is when your spinal disks wear down. Spinal disks are rubbery cushions between your vertebrae (bones in your spinal column). They act as shock absorbers and help you move, bend and twist comfortably. Everyone’s spinal disks degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging." - Cleveland Clinic
- "One of the more unfortunate aspects of getting older is that your joints begin to wear out, oftentimes for no good reason." - Johns Hopkins Medicine