Need advice for my shoulder pain please

[aclawrence]

Hey guys, I've been using a hammock for my hiking trips for severals years now and I really enjoy using a hammock and tarp. Unfortunately I only get out there in wilderness for an overnight 2-5 times every fall/winter. Usually just one night trips. I've noticed that I usually wake up with some pain in my right shoulder. I sleep in a diy 10' gathered end hammock and lay head right feet left. I went out a month ago and slept great and didn't have any pain. I went out this last weekend and felt like I had a good setup. The lay felt good and I slept good but when I woke up my right shoulder was killing me. I read through some older threads about shoulder impingement and different style hammocks and fabrics. I'm not sure what my fabric is but its a single layer acu camo. I also have a ridge runner but honestly that seems to give me a little more squeeze than the others. To be fair I haven't slept a lot of nights in it mainly because I haven't worked out how to get my incubator to fit on it very well. Do ya'll have any advice for me on things to try. I'm not opposed to picking up a hammock made of different material to try if it might help. Just not sure what to try. Thanks

[OneClick]

A 10.5-11' hammock could help, but before that try some ideas:

- Lying in the right position. This can vary a little, but in general get towards the head end so that if you reach up behind your head, you can almost touch the gathered end (about 4" short of doing so)

- Hang the foot end about 12" higher than the head to ensure the above works well.

- Your outside shoulder will likely be close to the edge (maybe even 1" away), giving your inside shoulder enough room. Just make sure your outside shoulder isn't on top of the edge where the material is very taut.

- If you're about 5'11" or taller, going to an 11' hammock right off the bat might be a good idea.

[Trecker8]

Hey guys, I've been using a hammock for my hiking trips for severals years now and I really enjoy using a hammock and tarp. Unfortunately I only get out there in wilderness for an overnight 2-5 times every fall/winter. Usually just one night trips. I've noticed that I usually wake up with some pain in my right shoulder. I sleep in a diy 10' gathered end hammock and lay head right feet left. I went out a month ago and slept great and didn't have any pain. I went out this last weekend and felt like I had a good setup. The lay felt good and I slept good but when I woke up my right shoulder was killing me. I read through some older threads about shoulder impingement and different style hammocks and fabrics. I'm not sure what my fabric is but its a single layer acu camo. I also have a ridge runner but honestly that seems to give me a little more squeeze than the others. To be fair I haven't slept a lot of nights in it mainly because I haven't worked out how to get my incubator to fit on it very well. Do ya'll have any advice for me on things to try. I'm not opposed to picking up a hammock made of different material to try if it might help. Just not sure what to try. Thanks

Shoulder pain is a tough one. I get it almost all the time when I sleep in a hammock. Just the nature of the beast - you're going to get shoulder compression from the gathered end. It's an odd angle, and if you don't move an inch during the entire night, you might be ok, but what human being sleeps like a corpse? I try to take an advil before I go to sleep and again when I get up. Seems to help.

[Tyroler Holzhacker]

Might want to see an Osteopathic specialist to ensure you don't have bursitis of the shoulder joint. I recommend muscle relaxer and Naproxin if that is indeed the diagnosis. The muscle relaxant will knock you out though.

[Shug]

Try some shoulder stretching right before crawling in for the night. Try switching to the opposite lay and see if you still get it.
Could be a shoulder issue.
Mine was starting to ache at night in hammocks and bed. Turned out I had a severe tear in my supraspinatus tendon. Rotator cuff tear. Had surgery three months ago.
Shug

[aclawrence]

Thanks for the replies, I think I probably do have some shoulder issues in general. If I get out and throw a football very much it will hurt me. Also sometimes when I lay on my stomach in bed and put my arms up under my pillow I think it gives me problems. I will try some of the stretches from the video you posted i another thread shug. I'm only 5'4" tall but I may pick up an 11' hammock and see if it helps any. I already have several suspensions so I might could get a stripped down hammock from dutch to fix up. Do you think a stiffer or stretchier fabric would be better?

[Shug]

Thanks for the replies, I think I probably do have some shoulder issues in general. If I get out and throw a football very much it will hurt me. Also sometimes when I lay on my stomach in bed and put my arms up under my pillow I think it gives me problems. I will try some of the stretches from the video you posted i another thread shug. I'm only 5'4" tall but I may pick up an 11' hammock and see if it helps any. I already have several suspensions so I might could get a stripped down hammock from dutch to fix up. Do you think a stiffer or stretchier fabric would be better?

I think maybe a stiffer or even a double layer may help. Less scrunching down in the hammock.

[Skytow]

Longer hammock works for me. Many years of swimming has caused my right shoulder to be a pain. The longer hammock totally solves this for me. In my case an 11 footer works great.

[aclawrence]

I talked to a girl at Dutchware and she recommended a single layer hexon 1.6. I asked about the 1.9 multicam and she thought it might be to stiff compared to what I’m used to, although I don’t know what my hammock is made out of currently. Now that I’m thinking of it I’ll see if I can find where I bought it on here.


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[Five Tango]

If it does not bother you sleeping at home,except for certain athletic pursuits,then you might not have too serious of an issue.You would be surprised at how much difference the longer hammocks make in comfort.I'm 5'6" and an 11 foot Argon hammock or Hexon beats any 10 footer I have.