This is the back brace that I'm going to be wearing for 3 months:

Yes, that's a look of discomfort on my face in the first picture.  This thing has to be tight; so tight that it's difficult to take a deep breath.  It does what it's designed to do, I can't twist or bend in it, and sitting is...interesting, to say the least.  I'm supposed to wear it over my clothes, and I already learned that low-rise pants aren't a good idea to wear with it....the bit of belly between the bottom of the brace and the top of the pants gets pinched - ouch! 

I've had it on for about half an hour, and I've had enough already - but I still have to walk to the end of the street and back and practice getting in and out of the car.  The nurse said that if I figured out how to walk, lay and sit with it on before the surgery that it would make the initial recovery period a a little less stressful.  So, I'm going to be a good patient and do as I'm told for once (did you hear that, D?  I'm doing as I'm told.  Amazing, huh?!)

*sigh*.....off to the end of the street I go.....