 Poster: A snowHead
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I went to Physio this week to get measured up for a brace. He is not a skier but said most of his previous patients had used the Donjoy Legend which is £295. I have been looking at a few brochures and the one I had earmarked was the Donjoy Armor with fourcepoint which seemed to be more skier orientated and is £400. Sorry I know the brace thing has been done quite a bit but I am struggling with this am I actually getting more by throwing money at the situation or will the cheaper one work just as well?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Gsyfreerider, You will find the Don-Joy very good but all day in them is something else. They are bombproof and are regularly tested in NFL and similar scenarios in the USA. But they ain't comfortable after 3 or 4 hours in spring snow with all the sweating that goes with it.
I use a Townsend Design off the shelf Rebel for skiing ( http://www.townsenddesign.com/Townsend_Design/Rebel.html) I had it on today from 06:00 this morning until 20:00 tonight without the slightest bother, slipping, sweating pinching or rubbing. All the DJ braces I have had in the past caused horrible sweat blisters (stupid neoprene sleeves and straps), slipped continuously and were as clumpy as hell. In 2009 this Rebel CI (Combined Instabilities) cost a "huge" total of 500 Euro. Being modular in design, it has been fitted to be above my ski boots in the calf section without compromising it's functionality.
Don-Joy have huge marketing muscle due to their acknowledge presence in the NFL among other things. They are great for a game (2 hours max) but after that you can get problems. You want to wear your brace all day every day next to your skin until you have confidence in your knee to go without it. The DJ will not, I can guarantee that, give you that confidence. Hence it is the most popularly prescribed OTC brace on the market and they suck - I've had 4 over the years and sent each one back multiple times. he Rebel was properly measured and fitted to be worn under my ski trousers and not to catch on my boots. I'm a short-@rse with short calves so the DJ's always caught in my boots and that often was the only thing preventing them slipping further.
Using a brace is a fine line between physical need and psychological dependency. I use a brace on each knee - I have used braces since my knee was destroyed and then rebuilt for the first time in March 1989. The knee is as sound as it can be given the nature of my injuries, but I don't seem to be able to dispense with the right knee brace for skiing - it has become part of my equipment. The brace on my left knee was part of an agreement between myself and my surgeon when he carried out an ACL revision coupled with a reconstruction of my LCL and some other stuff. He gave me the go ahead to get back to skiing at 5.5 months as long as I agreed to give up racing and to wear my brace for a minimum of 2 seasons. I am now weaning myself off it for all sports except skiing. I have a psychological dependency on it, as I do with my other knee brace. I am now actively looking for days when I can have it in the car but not wear it. I've already stopped using it for any other sport (and weaned myself off the other one for everything except skiing).
Always go for the best you can afford and make sure it is measured and fitted by someone who knows knees NOT ski equipment and is familiar with measuring for these things. Your physio does not sound as if he is all that on the ball to be honest!
Good luck
Sue 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks Samerberg Sue, much appreciated, just came across your knee medical history on another website are you bionic?! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Gsyfreerider, no just bloody-minded and passionate about my sports!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Samerberg Sue,  after seeing your list I actually feel acutely embarrassed moaning about my 'minor' injuries!
Totally different subject but going to be in Dalaas/Lech early Dec, if the snow isn't too clever we'll go on a road trip, last time we did Solden, Obergurgl and Ischgl when the Arlberg was closed. Have you been up to Pitztal? Looks a nice hill for a day out with plenty of vertical.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Gsyfreerider, Hi again.
As we discussed on another thread I am about a year ahead of you in this process and at this time last year was exactly where you are now. I had been to the Olympia Ski Show and walked around with different braces on went to see people locally, had fittings etc. Yet all through those the only recurrent them in my head was why am I doing this and do I really need it? To be clear I had been told that there was no physical need for any kind of brace, but it would not do me any harm and it was up to me.
Prior to my skiing accident I used to often wear a fairly hefty neoprene support on that knee when skiing as I had hurt it badly 20 years before playing rugby (back in the days when if it wasn't actually hanging off you were told you're fine, sprayed with ralgex and told to get on with the game) The surgeon who sorted my skiing injury reckoned I had actually done some real damage back then which had healed itself sufficiently but not properly which then manifested itself more as I got older.
As I said on that other thread I have come to accept that my continuing knee 'problem' is purely psychological and eventually settled for a Bioskin hinged brace which is big enough to know it is there and provide the mental crutch that I think I need but is also very light and comfy and easy to wear all day. I think it cost me about £70, link here
http://www.bioskin.com/Gladiator-Sport-Knee-Ligament-Brace.html
All I will say is that it is horses for courses in these things. I've not read anywhere if you have been medically advised to get the full mechanical brace or whether, like I was, you just think you should.
I've skied with Samerberg Sue and her advice will be absolutely cast iron if you do decide to go for the full mechanical brace as, with what she has been through, it is beyond belief that she is still able to ski, my injury was but a scratch in her league 
As Sue said I think you need to find a sports injury specialist who can advise you properly and impartially as to what you need. I would also advise from experience that you go to one that has no connection with any brace manufacturers or suppliers and especially not one who offers to supply the brace itself.
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