Chest/rib pain when sleeping in a hammock

**jrushman** · 02-24-2014, 13:58

I sometimes experience chest wall pain after sleeping in a hammock. I think it has to do with lying on my back in the same position. If I wake up during the night in the hammock with the pain, I can alleviate it by rolling to my side or stomach (not great in a hammock). After I get up in the morning and start moving around, the pain goes away. Someone mentioned I may have my hammock (Hennessey Expedition Zip) with insufficient slack in the ridgeline. Anyone else encounter this? Would a "bridge style" hammock help?

I've already contemplated the pain being cardiac in origin and excluded this possibility.

**The Old Boot** · 02-24-2014, 14:40

It may be a very mild acid reflux problem!

Try a pillow under your head or my solution for everything...

is to try a bridge....

Sleeping on either side or stomach, rolling over in the night, having a flatter lie with no calf or knee pain...heck all the problems everyone describes having in a gathered end hammock, it all goes away in a bridge.

Course I've never used anything BUT a bridge so what do I know!!

**fiveonomo** · 02-24-2014, 17:03

I hate to be that guy, but I've got to. The bridge did not work for me, not saying it won't for you. I agree though, give it a try. I switched to a gathered end and fixed my issues. Good luck.

**Old Dog** · 02-24-2014, 17:29

Originally Posted by jrushman

I've already contemplated the pain being cardiac in origin and excluded this possibility.

If there is any doubt at all, don't fool around. Get a checkup. I normally sleep quite comfortably in my hammock, but I woke up at 2:00 AM one night last November gasping for breath. No pain, but wringing wet with sweat. 2 weeks in a hospital and a month in rehab after replacing a valve in my heart, and I am back home and sleeping in my hammock again. Not a happy experience, and one I wouldn't care to repeat. Don't ignore chest problems; have it checked out. Incidentally, I hope I never see a hospital bed again. Those things are torture racks!

**wiscoman** · 02-24-2014, 17:35

I used to have a very similar issue. I switched to a longer hammock to get a more flat lay and that solved it for me! I felt comfy in the smaller one but, I it was just putting a little pressure on my shoulders. That seemed to be the culprit. I hope this helps.

**jrushman** · 02-25-2014, 11:09

Thanks for your advice. I was thinking that have a "flat lay" would help me, but I think by increasing the tension (reducing the "hang"), I may be increasing the amount of compression from the sides of the hammock. This is something with which I'll have to experiment.

**capta1n** · 02-25-2014, 11:32

I would agree with the longer hammock idea. I found some of the shorter hammocks that i have made to be very comfy at first. but the longer hammocks seem to be more comfortable in the long run.

**DavyRay** · 02-25-2014, 19:32

Originally Posted by jrushman

I sometimes experience chest wall pain after sleeping in a hammock. I think it has to do with lying on my back in the same position. If I wake up during the night in the hammock with the pain, I can alleviate it by rolling to my side or stomach (not great in a hammock). After I get up in the morning and start moving around, the pain goes away. Someone mentioned I may have my hammock (Hennessey Expedition Zip) with insufficient slack in the ridgeline. Anyone else encounter this? Would a "bridge style" hammock help?

I've already contemplated the pain being cardiac in origin and excluded this possibility.

Just how did you do that?

**SilvrSurfr** · 02-25-2014, 21:00

How tall are you? The HH Exped was my first hammock and probably the least comfortable hammock I've slept in. It's too short for my height (5' 11") so I've moved to longer (11 ft.) gathered-end hammocks.