@wywomanjk
Wow girl!! 2 miles a day? I’m proud of you! I walk a lot around my little ranch and I’m actually tempted to get a watch that counts my steps to see how much I’m walking.
As for taking off your brace, it’s very important to wear it to keep from twisting mostly. You can take it off if you’re not going to be twisting or bending, and only sitting back to put ice or heat on it (and shower and sleeping of course!)
Do you have a recliner or a chair that you can relax back in and put an ice pack along your back? I have a heating pad plugged in next to my couch and there are days when my back is achy that I will lay back and then I will put the ice on it. It does wonders!
As for your new gait, I went through the same thing! Your body has to adjust with your spine being braced up and aligned. Just be patient with your body and listen to it. I have days that I feel awesome and then the next day I have no idea what happened, but I’m hurting. Healing takes awhile 🥰