I want to share a story with you guys, I know it's long but I tend to be a bit long winded, sorry. Anyway...
A little over 3 and 1/2 years ago I herniated a disc while lifting a bag of dog food (I really wish I had a more exciting story than that) and I was almost completely bedridden for about 12 weeks following that injury. Since that time I have re-injured twice, but not to the same degree, and each re-injury was followed by a much shorter convalescence period. However, at no point since the initial injury have I been pain free. My VA doctors want me to have surgery and take painkillers like codeine, etc. but I don't want surgery and I don't like the way drugs make me feel. So I have learned to live with/manage the pain with ibuprofen and physical therapy. The hardest part of the day is first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed is like having a knife in my back but within an hour or so of activity the pain has dulled to a 3 (out of 10) and I can get on with my day.
Then a few weeks ago while perusing instructables.com my wife spots a hammock related instructable. She asked me if I had ever slept in one and if I thought it might help my back. I told her that I hadn't but that I had been thinking about it for my hikes so we talked about it a little and decided that we didn't see how sleeping like a banana would help but that it was worth looking into/trying since we have a family camping trip planned for June. So we bought the skeeter beeter (turns out my proportions are too generous for that one but my son is well within the weight range for it). So, I did some research and one of the first things I found was Shug's video series on youtube. As soon as I saw the "lay diagonally" bit, I decided to give it a go. I ordered a Skeeter Beeter Pro (much higher weight limit).
I waited impatiently for a week and after it arrived I did a few test hangs and asked a lot of questions here in these forums but never spent more than a few minutes in the hammock. Then, a few days ago, I found a DIY thread about building a stand. So I bought some 2x4s, various nuts and bolts, etc. and the neighbor and I spent an afternoon building the stand. We brought it in the house and My wife and I figured out how to get it into the bedroom (even if we can't sleep together in the bed we can be together in the room).
The first night was not good. I thought that since I was indoors I wouldn't need a pad or under-quilt so I froze. And the combination of nerves/being cold made me have to get up three times during the night with a sense of bladder urgency I haven't felt since my navy/drinking days.
That was five nights ago. For the last four nights I have slept comfortably (though I have woken up somewhat moist) with a $5 walmart blue pad. Each of the following mornings I woke up with less back pain than the morning before. And today, for the first time in over 3 and 1/2 years, I woke up with no back pain at all.
Many many thanks to all the people here who have kindly answered my questions. Without your expertise (I don't care what you say, you're all experts in my book.) today would have started, just like the last 1277... In pain.
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I am not even remotely a morning person, so I can't fathom waking with that much pain every day. If you continue your perusal of the forum, which I highly recommend, you'll find that there are many permanent indoor hangers here. I'm sure some will chime in with their setups. It sounds to me like you'll be further investigating/investing into your indoor hangs, so more power to you! If you want to avoid the sweaties, I would recommend a light, breathable underquilt. Nothing fancy to start, maybe even rig up a down or fleece throw blanket underneath you and you'll be even more comfortable!
Originally Posted by ganon414
I am far from painless though
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