I assume it is one of those cases where each individual has to decide what is the lesser of 2 evils. It hurts to wear socks...but I wear them because I want to protect my ankle from cold air and breezes. The heating pad I wear is heavy and hurts...but the relief from the heat offsets that so I will wear it until it hurts more than it helps. Same thing would go with braces I guess...if you feel the benefit of the protection offsets the pain, then it is the lesser of two evils.

But regardless of those personal choices...it is not recommended for RSD patients to wear braces so why would a doctor use that as his criteria for deciding how "mild" a case it? Seems silly because you could argue that your case is more serious because you can't even handle the touch of the brace to get the benefits of the protection it might provide. Just seems odd coming from a doctor...