Hammocks… For Log Sleepers Only?

Tim, I've been dealing with lower back issues since I was 22. Take a tip from me. It's all about carefully and in a controlled way, extending your range of movement. Lie on your stomach in bed. prop yourself up on your elbows, and relax into the pain. Then roll over, bring your knees up to your chest, and let your bent legs back down. Repeat three times before rising. Don't be ashamed to stick a pilow under your knees if it eases your back while resting. -Rog-

I switched to hammocks because of my back. I don't generally have problems in normal life – a tweak or two a year usually from doing something stupid – but I was often a wreck during and after backpacking trips. Sleeping and especially getting up in the morning was a major pain. Kept trying different sleeping pads and nothing really changed. Went to hammocking and I actually come home feeling BETTER than when I left. I now use a hammock for "therapy" whenever I tweak my back. I feel it starting to lock up and a couple hour-long sessions in the hammock seems to set it right. I don't really care about the "how" at this point. I just know it works for me. I don't seem to sleep as deep in the hammock, but I'm infinitely more comfortable and physically refreshed.

I have similar experiences. I just got back from a 5 day backpacking trip, and experienced more neck/back discomfort in my own bed since returning home than I did out on the trail. More motivation to get out backpacking! How cool is that?

I have exactly the same experience as Curt. In fact I was starting to have significant lower back pains that kept me from sleeping more than an hour or two a night until I started sleeping in the hammock..

After sleeping in the hammock at home and on the trail regularly, most of my back problems have gone away, and I'm actually pretty comfortable in the bed at night now.

I'm sure this is a YMMV thing, but it works wonders for some of us.

How about you guys who have bad lower backs, lower back injuries, etc.? Are you able to sleep in a hammock without it aggrivating any back pain conditions you might have?

I just had Spine surgery 25 days ago(Lamonectomy/Micro Diskectomy L5/S1)…and the best sleep i had since then (pain free) was in my Warbonnet Blackbird
i can't sleep in the bed..if i do i wake up the next day and i'm in pain all day…i can't even walk down the stairs in the morning

i know a few other ppl with back problems and they sleep pain free in hammocks as well
so yes…a hammock is better for back problems
one of the reasons for this is with sleeping in a hammock there is no pressure on your hips and you sleep with a natural curve this helps decompress your lower back as you sleep