Help and Advice for Back Sufferer Please?

[Surv:vor]

Following on from my post in the What is your preferred shelter for bushy camping? thread I'd appreciate your help and advice please folks?

I'm upper 40's, 6 foot, 16 stones, and suffer with my back following a fracture whilst in my early twenties. During the past twenty years or so I've spent many nights outside, often angling, comfortable on a bedchair or recliner. The problem is mechanical, I'm strong and not so fragile. For example I did 30 nights between mid-November and mid-February in season 2006/7. That said I just cannot sleep easily on hard ground.

In recent times I've been drawn to bushcrafting, I'm only surprised it has taken so long given I used to sneak out of the house aged seven years to visit the local bushy places! Thinking about this I'm certain I've held myself back somewhat, excuse the pun, on account of the sleeping arrangements. Therefore my dilemma is what lighter kit will be the best way for me to ditch the chairs and get a fair nights sleep under the sky?

I appreciate there is likely only a few members whom have met with any similar considerations, though perhaps others may have experienced short term injuries which may be relevant? Perhaps you can say that a particular piece of kit has made sleep more comfortable for you, or not, as the case may be?

Any suggestions which can help me put together a list of the most suitable kit will be gratefully received???

Many thanks.

 

[Teepee]

You sound a lot like me

I has a mad few years carp fishing, although I was never comfy on the bedchairs either.

The biggest turning point was rediscovering hammocks. .One day, I strung a DD travel between 2 trees behind my peg and that was that.
I'm now almost full time in the hammock and my backache (contsantly slipped discs and Scoliosis) is a distant memory. Sleep outside is now a struggle not to fall into deep coma and 12 hours sleep is easy


I'd have a look at the Warbonnet Blackbird or the Woodsman from UKhammocks. I make my own hammocks, but if I didn't, I'd own these.

 

[Nohoval_Turrets]

The Exped downmats are a great way to go for ground-dwellers. There's a lot of depth in them compared to foam mats or thermarests. With other mats I sometimes find I'm a bit stiff in the back department in the morning. Not a problem for me, I'm alright with a little stretch, but I can well imagine that back-sufferers would have problems. With the exped, I don't experience that at all.

 

[Surv:vor]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Pete, that would be perfect. What sort of price are the two hammocks you've mentioned, and would you recommend anywhere to buy?

I suppose the place to start would be with a cheap option and see if it's a starter for me, any suggestions please?

 

[resnikov]

Tenth Wonder do some cheaper hammocks on Ebay http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Tenth-Wonder-Hammocks?_trksid=p4340.l2563
then there is DD Hammocks (up to £50) http://www.ddhammocks.com/
then you are looking at the Warbonnet Blackbird http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbirds.php
Hennessey http://hennessyhammock.com/
or http://ukhammocks.co.uk/

 

[Teepee]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Pete, that would be perfect. What sort of price are the two hammocks you've mentioned, and would you recommend anywhere to buy?

I suppose the place to start would be with a cheap option and see if it's a starter for me, any suggestions please?

Those 2 hammocks have a different lay to most others, so a comparison isn't easy. Links; http://ukhammocks.co.uk/shop/category_2/Hammocks.html?sessid=NBV90tEaGofriYrzOqCgL1EN2R3qh5iTMNbt6w7wWZNWEibM3ozCMvnZ59clU7NN&shop_param=cid%3D%26
http://ukhammocks.co.uk/shop/catego...6w7wWZNWEibM3ozCMvnZ59clU7NN&shop_param=cid=&
The Nomads land XL gets good reviews on here and is similar to my current favourite DIY. Theres also Tenth wonder on Ebay

I do have the Exped 9 downmat and its a great mat. For me, its tolerable to sleep on but I don't enjoy it compared to my hammocks.


A hammock setup though isn't cheap, you'll need the hammock, tarp and under insulation. The under insulation is the biggest stumbling block for most folks too and nothing on earth compares to a dedicated underquilt for warmth and comfort.

Make sure you have at least a cheap foam camping mat to put in the hammock when you try it out, it'll give you an idea of how comfortable they are without suffering a cold back that you get in a hammock without insulation.

 

[resnikov]

I would say if you can find someone near to you who "hangs" go and see their setup and try it before you invest in it.

 

[palace]

I had a disc go in my back at at age 21 when weight lifting, periodic problems continued they abated when I took up power lifting though I still get twinges at 63 years old, however for the last two or three years I have used a hammock when away with family & friends.
I am 5'9" & weigh 130 kg (287lbs) with V wide shoulders. I have an XL Tenth Wonder Hammock & XL Sargasso tarp, this set up lays flatter than most set ups, I am more comfortable in the hammock than on our expensive memory foam mattress...

 

[rik_uk3]

Bad back + hammock, think of the mechanics involved, can't really be a great idea; have a word with your physiotherapist who knows your spine and see what he or she says before committing to buy a hammock. While you may love the idea, your back as you get older may not, the strains/poor posture you put your spine through now will come back to haunt you in years to come. I use a cot bed, its firm and easy to reposition myself during the night, or a full size air mat, the self inflater type are not really comfy for me as back pain means I need to move about a lot at night.

 

[Intheround]

I usually sleep on 2 or 3 sheepskins but but a recent week of nights on them left me tired from waking up with back pain. Try & sleep on your front as much as possible, I was told this by ex nato colleague, seemed to help a bit. Bought a double adult hammock but not tried yet as daughter nicked it!

 

[spiritwalker]

i have a curved spine and sciatica and to be frank i find beds really uncomfortable but oddly when i sleep on the ground with a foam mat or similar i feel great, i have never tried a hammock oh and as above i sleep on my tummy or side it hurts for me to lie on my back and i also find ditching the pillow good i tend to sleep on my arm as a pillow...

 

[Teepee]

....Bad back + hammock, think of the mechanics involved, can't really be a great idea......

Can you explain please Rik?

 

[spiritwalker]

maybe he means getting in and out of it particularly if your back goes when your in one or perhaps the fact your spine will be unsupported and bent like a banana?

 

[PDA1]

No way is one's back/spine bent like a banana. A properly strung hammock with a ridge line approx 83% of the overall hammock lengtlh will allow a completely flat diagonal lie. I have arthritis in my lower back (and other places as well) and I can confirm that a properly hung hammock is extremely comfortable. And with decent insulation (pad under, quilt/SB over) you will sleep, as they say, like a baby. A netless "travel" hammock and a blue pad won't cost a fortune and will allow you to test whether you can make it work for you. Getting in or out of a hammock requires no contortions. It's as easy as sitting in a chair.

Your back is completely supported, evenly, along its full length, and will be flat (level) when you lie on a diagonal. Absolutely NO Banana (yes, I'm shouting)

 

[Bucephalas]

What a bunch we are eh?

I'm in the same boat (or hammock).

I hate ground dwelling and rarely sleep. The best night I've had so far is with my new Exped ultralight inside a czech bed roll, but if at all possible I will always go the hammock route.

Due to breaking every bone (except wrist and ankle) down the right side of my body some 8 years back, I now live with a constant sleep defecit at home. For my knee (and probably habit) I must sleep with one leg cocked (for want of a better word) over a long side-sleepers pillow. If i have a very small or no head pillow I suffer back pains and if I bulk up the pillows I suffer shoulder and clavicle pains.

I have a DD frontline and travel and sleep like a baby in it. It's the only time I can sleep on my back.

 

[Surv:vor]

My thanks to you all.

There's a lot of really useful info here for me to investigate, which I shall do over the coming days.

Any further ideas and/or suggestions will be much appreciated...

Oaks

 

[rik_uk3]

Can you explain please Rik?

Most specialists in back problems will suggest sleeping on a firm flat bed which a hammock is not
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthopedic_mattress
At the end of the day its the OP's back but as I said old injuries do come back with a vengeance as you age (my own right knee and back for instance) so if you have had problems don't do things that could over time compound your issues.

 

[Silverclaws]

Stuffed back here too, two slipped discs and scoliosis, I have been working on developing core strength these last few years through dancing and to say, I don't have as much problem with my back these days as I did. But a few years ago I had to sleep on the floor as the bed was just bad news, but the mornings were terrible, sitting up, no chance, it was more roll onto the side then onto the front and almost do a press up to get up very slowly as the stiffness was so limiting.

But if you have a bad back, start investigating on how to develop your core muscles, these are the muscles under the exterior muscles or whatever we might have there and the ones that keep the spine where it is meant to be with correct lordosis, also drink loads of non dehydrating fluids, as, as we get older the 'discs' between the vertabrae dry out, that is why we lose height with age.

But a fine bunch aren't we with back problems and I would wager they are all lower back problems, caused by our poor posture, gait and occupational hazards, notice other parts of the world where back problems are not so common and notice how different the people are to us. It is my belief such postural training as 'back straight, chest out'' etc, is part of our problem, in our desire for a fine body of men, we are removing what nature has designed for us, a natural posture that stresses nothing.

The first twinges of lower back problems for me started in the military.

 

[PDA1]

Bucephalus - maybe you should, as I do, string your hammock at home and use it instead of a bed

 

[Teepee]

Most specialists in back problems will suggest sleeping on a firm flat bed which a hammock is not
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthopedic_mattress
At the end of the day its the OP's back but as I said old injuries do come back with a vengeance as you age (my own right knee and back for instance) so if you have had problems don't do things that could over time compound your issues.

I've followed that advice too about the firm bed and it has helped. I spent 6 months sleeping on a sheet of MDF, it was the only way I could wake up without massive pain.
There is gennerally more and more proponents of hammocks though in the medical world and I have a friend who was actually told firmly to get a hammock by his physio to allow him to sleep with his massive back injuries.
The idea that a decent sized hammock curves your spine though to any degree is a false one.

Stuffed back here too, two slipped discs and scoliosis, I have been working on developing core strength these last few years through dancing and to say, I don't have as much problem with my back these days as I did. But a few years ago I had to sleep on the floor as the bed was just bad news, but the mornings were terrible, sitting up, no chance, it was more roll onto the side then onto the front and almost do a press up to get up very slowly as the stiffness was so limiting.

But if you have a bad back, start investigating on how to develop your core muscles, these are the muscles under the exterior muscles or whatever we might have there and the ones that keep the spine where it is meant to be with correct lordosis, also drink loads of non dehydrating fluids, as, as we get older the 'discs' between the vertabrae dry out, that is why we lose height with age.

But a fine bunch aren't we with back problems and I would wager they are all lower back problems, caused by our poor posture, gait and occupational hazards, notice other parts of the world where back problems are not so common and notice how different the people are to us. It is my belief such postural training as 'back straight, chest out'' etc, is part of our problem, in our desire for a fine body of men, we are removing what nature has designed for us, a natural posture that stresses nothing.

The first twinges of lower back problems for me started in the military.

I couldn't agree more with what you say. Strengthening my core muscles has over the last 2 years has done wonders for me.
Kayaking, combined with running and regular hammock sleeping has been a literal miracle cure.

I'm convinced that my problems have stemmed from muscular imbalance. I'm always bending down at work (I'm a tradesman), which strengthens the back muscles but not the stomach.
A proper kayak stroke works the core, and has really made a massive difference to me.
If I have a break from it, I start getting a little back pain. A run or a paddle will remove this pain again.