Mueller Adjustable Back Brace w/ Lumbar Pad

As someone who suffers from sciatica problems, I've been looking for a decent back brace to help alleviate the pain, especially when driving. I tried several, and this one with the lumbar support really does the trick. I tried a couple of other brands, but Mueller overall produces a great product for a reasonable price. Construction is excellent - seams are tight, ample velcro, easy to put on and take off. I have a 34" waist and this fits fine -- could easily accomodate several more inches. I started with the basic Mueller brace (the one without the lumbar). Nice, but didn't really help all that much in terms of pain. The higher end Mueller (the one with the laces on the back) was also very nicely made and a snap to adjust, but again, it didn't offer the support I needed. The lumbar pad on this model makes all the difference. They have videos of several of their models on their website which are very helpful, but they are hard to find -- I just stumbled across them by plugging in the model numbers. Good info, but a very poorly organized site. Everyone's back is different, so unfortunately you'll need to try out various models to see what hits the sweet spot for your condition. All three Muller braces that I've tried were all very well made and a good value, so I can highly recommend the brand. I ended up buying two so I could keep one in the car and one at home. I found that using both lumbar supports next to one another makes the support even better. The lumbar pads attach with velcro, and there is room to fit both on the same belt side-by-side. That works best for me when driving. A single lumbar pad works well for when I'm mobile. I also want to pass along some advice I received from my physical therapist regarding braces. While they can be huge help, you should not wear one constantly since it can lead to muscle atrophy. The ideal situation is to build up your core muscles so they do the job on their own. A brace is just a stop-gap to help cut down on pain on the bad days or when you are stressing the muscles (which, for me, occurs when I'm driving long distances). Used judiciously they're great; used improperly can make the situation worse. If you're reading this you probably have back pain, and I very much hope you find the right solution that helps make the situation better or at least more tolerable.

I'm 74, 6-4, long time heart patient. 3-1-19, I weighed 245 and started on a diet/exercise program of my own. I eat a healthy Asian/Mediterranean diet but way too many sweets and chocolates. I also started walking 90 minutes every single day. After being down 20-25 lbs I found lots of new energy and feel like a 40 year old. I'm retired and started to work on many projects and chores around the house and backyard. I weighed 202 lbs this morning, 7-22-19, down 43 lbs. However, about four weeks ago I began to have increasing mid to lower back pain/discomfort. It's not the walking, but lots of stationary standing morning to evening. Never had serious bad issues, but have experienced this lower back fatigue in the past occasionally when I accompany my wife shopping and end up standing for hours while she shops for clothes, etc. I had used a back brace years ago that helped when I was lifting and pushing heavy equipment. Last week I spent considerable time online researching back braces. There are many with confusing model numbers. I finally settled on the Mueller 255. Note, the model 255 (Amazom, etc.) and model 6721 (Walgreens, etc.) from Mueller are the same exact brace sold thru different types of re-sellers. Both have a removable lumbar support. I received the brace about 1pm on Monday, immediately put it on for house/yard chores for about 5 hours and then again for my 90 minute walk and until I went to bed. It felt great right from the start and only some very slight discomfort as I began to walk, but went away in about 30 minutes. I wore it again today, Tuesday, all day for home chores and shopping. Once again I did my 90 minute early evening and this time felt zero discomfort. I seem so far to prefer to use the brace without the lumbar support Thank you Mueller! This back brace seems perfect for me. I now have a 34" waist and a very slightly paunchy stomach, about 36" (35" average). My photo of the back side of the brace was taken in a mirror and thus reversed, sorry. It is good to realize that the back brace does cover the lower stomach some. See the my last photo where I'm pointing to my belly button. This is very important as I read here lots of complaints about sizing issues. If one has a stomach that is several inches or more larger in circumference than the waist then that must be taken into consideration. I'm think the 50" max is overstated. Note my photo colors are a little off. The brace is definitely black. I'm very impressed with the obvious high quality of this brace, functionality and the great support it gives my back when needed due to my long days of standing, bending and lifting. Highly;y Recommended!

It really works and make support

Nothing's perfect but this belt comes close. I had extremely sharp lower backpains since mid-summer. Previously I had it once in a while but then it became chronic. I think one of the activities which worsened the condition were long driving stints, with a lumbar pillow on my car seat which may have lessened the problem but did not prevent it. My day job also has been sitting at a desk for hours on end, although in an ergonomic chair. Since using this belt these past few weeks, the sharp pain has gone away. I essentially wear it whenever sitting down in a poorly designed chair, when driving and when lifting heavy items (house maintenance at home). UPDATE: I purchased this belt some 4 years ago. Once or twice a year I do something which brings back the back pain. It just happened to me yesterday, while I was away from home, sitting in a lousy office chair and sleeping on a way-too-soft mattress. I came back home and pulled the belt out of the closet. I wore it yesterday evening and this morning. What a difference! I repeat my original praise for this product! Don't sleep with it. Don't make it fit tight, just comfortable. Sometimes, if the built-in lumbar support bothers you a drop sitting in the chair that you're in, just keep it on or get up and walk around every once in a while, which you should be doing anyway. Once the major pain went away, I found that I could remove the belt altogether, especially when I'm walking around a lot. You should remove the belt every now and then and not turn it into a permanent crutch. The belt also helps my posture while sitting down. It's harder to slouch with the belt on. Should you wear the belt under or above your clothing? That's a personal decision. I find wearing it externally more comfortable. That also gives me the advantage to easily remove it without undressing. Of course if you don't want people to see you in it, this might not be practical, although I can wear a jacket or a sweater on top of it to cover it up. Important lesson from experience: the belt is chock full of Velcro. I once put it on while I was wearing a tie and the tie got snagged on the inside of the belt, completely ruining the tie. So, if your going to wear a tie or sweater or other sensitive fabrics that get pulled easily, put the belt on first and only wear such garments on top of the belt. So far, the belt's external surface hasn't snagged anything which I've worn.

I broke and fractured my entire lumbar spine, got spinal fusion, and this is the only comfortable back brace I can use that gives me so much support. I can't use any other brace. This is the best.

my lower vertebrae are bone on bone. I had difficulties straightening after bending down and my sciatic nerve gave me constant pain. This brace has been a great help. I am a long way from being cured. However, the brace allows me to bend down, and my nerves are much less painful. I would definitely buy it again

This belt is larger than expected. When fully extended, the REGULAR-size belt is ONLY 44 INCHES long! I bought this REGULAR size, which accirding to the Ad, should fit a person with a 28 to 50-inch waist. My waist is 44 inches, so I even if I was naked, this belt would not fit . . there is not be enough belt overlap to attach the two sides! The REGULAR size belt MAY ONLY FIT a person with a 28 to 34-inch waist. See the attached photo of the defective size chart.

This is the best brace I found besides the BaxMax which gives even greater support. The BaxMax is not the one if you will do a lot of sitting with it on. The lightweight material tends to roll up. But it is the best if you will be standing while wearing it. MUELLER would be my second choice and first choice for sitting and even sleeping while wearing one.