Lower Back Pain after first night

**creygelz** · 06-04-2020, 05:46

Hi Guys

I just got my first hammock (WBBB XLC) and after the first night I experienced lower back pain, as much as I got to move back to my bed to be able to sleep again. I hooked it up at home with the indicated 17 feet distance, head end 5.9 feet high and the feet end about a feet higher. I watched a ton of youtube videos, studied the book The Ultimate Hang 2 and I really don't know if I'm doing something wrong. (btw yes, lying diagonally ;D)

I had lower back pain from before but only happening when sitting bad. What i experience now when lying in the hammock, is that my lower back is not perfectly straight and tends to curve a bit (what seems to be enough to experience pain). If I put a pillow under my lower back it seems to be better but that loft will get lost and it will get squeezed to a point that it is not supporting anymore after time.

Anyone experience the same thing? Is it normal that your lower back curves a bit in a hammock?

Thanks a lot in advance for your replies!

**Donfish06** · 06-04-2020, 05:53

I know this isn't what you're looking for, but I have long experiences lower back pain (not associated with my hammocks). I finally started doing just a little bit of core exercise with an ab roller and all of the pain is gone. It just takes a couple of minutes a day, and does wonders. I would just suggest to strengthen your core. It's not your hammocks fault.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

**SLG45** · 06-04-2020, 08:46

Based on your post, I would say it is impossible to know if it is the hammock or you, at this point. Just not enough information. Is your back curving in the hammock from top to bottom, or from side to side? I assume from top to bottom, based on the pillow, but maybe not. How much do you weigh? What fabric did you get? I am in very good shape, and only weigh 150#, but have been struggling with fabric firmness for a bit now. My back doesn't hurt like yours seems to, but I wake up achy if the fabric is too stretchy. My WB Eldorado was just too stretchy for me, as is my BB. Both were using the lightest fabric that WB offers. A 1.25 multicam from SLD seems to be working well for me, and I am trying a 1.6hyperD tonight.

Regardless of fabric, it seems that there is usually a learning curve for hammock sleeping. I have been sleeping full time in one for the last couple of months, and am definitely not all knowing, and have not yet figured everything out for me. I do sleep very well though, and you should not feel the kind of pain you are. Probably not very helpful, but good luck!

**drifter** · 06-04-2020, 09:43

Try putting something under your knees.

**Shug** · 06-04-2020, 09:54

It may just take a few times for your body to adjust.
A double layered XLC is firmer for the most part.
A single a bit less firm.
Carry forth.
Shug

**creygelz** · 06-04-2020, 10:15

Originally Posted by Donfish06

I know this isn't what you're looking for, but I have long experiences lower back pain (not associated with my hammocks). I finally started doing just a little bit of core exercise with an ab roller and all of the pain is gone. It just takes a couple of minutes a day, and does wonders. I would just suggest to strengthen your core. It's not your hammocks fault.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm already doing core exercises and stretching. I really only have back pain if I have a bad posture while sitting for a long time. I put now a bigger pillow under my lower back and it seems to be quite good. I'll have a try with it this night and will report. If it works, I'll have to check some outdoor pillows then.

**creygelz** · 06-04-2020, 10:28

Originally Posted by SLG45

Based on your post, I would say it is impossible to know if it is the hammock or you, at this point. Just not enough information. Is your back curving in the hammock from top to bottom, or from side to side? I assume from top to bottom, based on the pillow, but maybe not. How much do you weigh? What fabric did you get? I am in very good shape, and only weigh 150#, but have been struggling with fabric firmness for a bit now. My back doesn't hurt like yours seems to, but I wake up achy if the fabric is too stretchy. My WB Eldorado was just too stretchy for me, as is my BB. Both were using the lightest fabric that WB offers. A 1.25 multicam from SLD seems to be working well for me, and I am trying a 1.6hyperD tonight.

Regardless of fabric, it seems that there is usually a learning curve for hammock sleeping. I have been sleeping full time in one for the last couple of months, and am definitely not all knowing, and have not yet figured everything out for me. I do sleep very well though, and you should not feel the kind of pain you are. Probably not very helpful, but good luck!

I'm hanging in the lightweigt double layer which I guess should not be that stretchy. I'm also sporty but my weight is 185lb with 6ft of height. I'm lying now with a pillow from my couch under my back for about an hour and seems to do the trick. I'm just not sure if it is normal for the lower back to be slightli curved in a hammock. Also if I tweek in length setup from my straps it doesn't really make a difference. Thanks for the reply and have a good hang tonight!

**creygelz** · 06-04-2020, 10:30

Originally Posted by drifter

Try putting something under your knees.

Makes it more comfy indeed but doesn't help for my back. Putting a pillow directly under my back is better in my case. Thanks!

**creygelz** · 06-04-2020, 10:44

Originally Posted by Shug

It may just take a few times for your body to adjust.
A double layered XLC is firmer for the most part.
A single a bit less firm.
Carry forth.
Shug

Whoooo buddy! Nice to get a reply from you shug! Love your videos! Actually you got me into hammocking haha
(and pop tarts)

Yes I got the double layered XLC. Trying a pillow under my back tonight. I'll post tomorrow how it went. All secure in sector seven here as well!

**creygelz** · 06-05-2020, 11:04

Update: I was sleeping for about 6h and woke up again with back pain. It's strange because I feel super comfortable in my hammock. Maybe I have to experiment with different pillow sizes. Or is it possible that you get a flatter lie if the head end is about the same height as the foot end? (I have fixed heights because hanging indoors on hooks) Also is it normal that you don't get that much of lower back support in a hammock?