Can a back brace cause a hernia?

I've had a back problem for a long time now, and I've had to wear a back brace, which looks like this:



I've put on a lot of weight, but I can't do very strenuous exercises, so I generally walk in the evening, and use the gym cycle at home for about 15 minutes. Since the past month, I've had a strange sensation at the pit of the stomach, just where the stomach ends, and also in the scrotum region (outer sides of the testis). It causes a very slight amount of pain, but I suspect it could be a hernia. Also, when I have been on the cycle for a few minutes, this strange feeling comes up, and there is also the pins and needles kind of feeling for a few moments, which goes away when I get down from the cycle and walk about a bit. If I lie down the strange feeling goes away, its not like it keeps paining the whole day long.

My question is, I still wear the back brace because it gives a lot of comfort to the back. Is it possible that wearing a brace can cause, or aggravate a hernia?