shoulder pain?

**JDShearer** · 07-11-2010, 13:22

I've been hammock camping for about 8 years now. In the last year or so, my hammock has begun to really hurt my shoulder. I have loose tendons in my shoulders, and the pressure from my hammock wakes me up in the middle of the night with some significant shoulder pain. My hammock has been a mesh hammock with spreader bars. I recently made a couple of gathered end hammocks to try something different. My gathered end is 12 feet by about 65" wide and gathered "warbonnet style." I spent my first night in it the other weekend and had even worse shoulder pain. I have also made a bridge hammock that I haven't spent the night in yet, because just lying in it it feels like it pushes my shoulders even more. Does anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions or solutions? I would really hate to have to give up my hammock, but it's getting so I can't sleep through the night. How can I solve the shoulder pain issue? Help!

**oldgringo** · 07-11-2010, 13:27

I hate to say this, but...Advil.

Also, have you tried both diagonals?

**JDShearer** · 07-11-2010, 13:58

I have indeed tried both diagonals. It's definitely better if I can stay off of my right shoulder, but the left shoulder will give me trouble too.

**Take-a-knee** · 07-11-2010, 14:02

You need to see a good ortho doc, sounds like rotator cuff issues to me. They are easy to fix if you catch it early.

**Just Jeff** · 07-11-2010, 15:07

The bridge I tried felt like it rolled my shoulders inwards, so it wasn't so comfortable to me. Maybe a wider one would be better, though.

My only real recommendation would be to make sure you had enough sag, but your pic shows that you do...so I don't have anything else to offer!

**Ramblinrev** · 07-11-2010, 15:19

A bridge hammock has a very unique and different feel to it. There has been a lot of discussion about "shoulder squeeze" in the bridge. For the most part it is not really shoulder squeeze but part of the unique feel. This is NOT to say your pain isn't real. In fact, if the bridge is that uncomfortable that quickly I would decidedly say "stay out of it" as it may just not be comfortable for you even if your shoulder didn't hurt. As far as the gathered end is concerned... I agree with JJ.. the sag factor looks good. The only thing I would suggest, if possible is give an even wider hammock a try. The Trek Lite Double and the ENO Doublenest are almost 8' wide. I made a DIY gathered end to those dimensions and it was absolutely comfy. It allowed even a flatter lie than my HH Explorer UL which is saying something in my book. You may still need to seek some medical assessment but if you have the chance to try out a double or make one according to those larger dimensions it might be worth a try.

**Knotty** · 07-11-2010, 20:20

Interesting. I now sleep in a hammock full time because it causes me less shoulder (and back) pain than a bed. Sorry it's not working for you. I use a gathered end.

**JDShearer** · 07-12-2010, 18:25

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like I'll just have to live with it for a while. I may give the wider gathered end a try at some point. I also don't want to give up hope that I could sleep on my stomach in the bridge.

**kayak karl** · 07-12-2010, 18:49

Originally Posted by JDShearer

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like I'll just have to live with it for a while. I may give the wider gathered end a try at some point. I also don't want to give up hope that I could sleep on my stomach in the bridge.

if this is happening laying on your side try pillows. if they work consider a blowup pillow in camp.