Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I appear to be in the early stages of a herniated disc, with discomfort in my left butt, hip and leg, and tingling sensations in my left leg and foot when standing in one position. It has not yet advanced to actual sciatic pain. My chiropractor suggested I try a back brace to be able to work (where I stand a lot)without the tingling (which is counterproductive). I ordered this brace and use it WITHOUT the little detachable lumbar pad, at my chiropractor's recommendation. It is really great. It does prevent the tingling and makes my work situation much easier. I tried a different brace before this one but, while it stopped the tingling, it was not as nice or as adjustable. I have a 32" waist and this brace works very well for a wide range of sizes. I've researched pros and cons of braces and one word of advice is to only wear one when it is needed, ideally only a few hours a day, because it can contribute to muscle atrophy. Another caution about braces and lifting: they can cause one to feel overconfident and to lift more than they should and therefore contribute to injury or increased injury, so one has to use common sense. It is ideal if you have a knowledgeable health practitioner who can work with you regarding your ailment (if you have an ailment) and regarding the use of a brace. This is a very well made, high quality brace, which is relatively comfortable (as these things go). It is definitely superior to some of the other braces on the market and I highly recommend it. The the only thing I don't like about it is that, unlike some braces, it does not come with shoulder straps, which would allow you to loosen it and keep it around your waist when it is not needed. This can be very useful when you use the brace intermittently during the day and need it to be readily available for use. For this purpose, I bought a pair of McGuire-Nicholas "115" heavy duty black suspenders (the type used for holding tool belts, etc.; available on Amazon and at some hardware stores). They are very adjustable and work well for holding the brace when it is loosened.