A neck brace is worn to help with relieving pain and to slow down or prevent the development of a cervical spondylosis. The cause of this disease has not been identified but has been shown to be hereditary. Those at highest risk include women with a history of breast cancer, men with a family history of this disease, and men who have played sports involving repetitive head injury. Those who wear a neck brace for a long period of time may develop nerve damage, muscle weakening, or both. Neck braces are usually made from silicon rubber. Some versions are made from polyethylene plastic.
When you first put the soft tissues brace on, it is wrapped around your neck and over your head and then your shoulders. The doctor may add straps to make it more comfortable. You will usually wear these bracelets for four to six hours a day, depending on your activity level. If you do wear the neck brace while you sleep, the doctor may take it off in the morning when you take a nap if it is comfortable enough.
It is important that you get your questions answered before you wear any type of soft therapeutic neck brace. You should make sure that you feel secure enough that you can move your neck freely. Since many people wear these collars daily, it is important that you find one that you will not lose. Check with the manufacturer to find out what happens to your bracelet if you fall down or get injured.
In recent years, there have been two major injuries that were caused by wearing a cervical collar. One was from a football player who accidentally slipped into it when the game was being played. Another was from a woman who was crushed by a fall. Both incidents resulted in serious injuries. Women who wear neck braces because they were victims of one of these two incidents have been awarded compensation in excess of $1 million. This type of traumatic injury lawsuit is very common and can be very profitable.
People who wear rigid neck brace for any length of time have sometimes suffered from memory loss, short term memory loss, depression, anxiety and stress. Some people find that they develop phobias. Phobias affect people in different ways, some get anxious about being around certain things, some become afraid of flying, some get depressed and some get upset over small things. There are even people who develop an eating disorder because of the discomfort the soft neck brace causes.
You should always consult with your doctor before you wear one of these neck braces. If you have had a serious injury or illness that may have caused damage to this area, your doctor may recommend a different type of support, such as a spinal pillow. Soft pillows are very helpful in preventing further injuries. Your doctor may recommend that you also use neck braces as a means of improving your range of motion.
