Hamstring tendinopathy question

Hi Doctors, I (29/Male) am just starting the group programming this month and had question about a tendinopathy I have. It’s in my left hamstring at the hip attachment, in my training before BBM it’s been mostly tolerable but I decided to try some cardio in preparation. I tried an air-bike and rower but the pressure from the seats made my leg fall asleep rather quickly (2:00-3:00) so I didn’t do anything beyond 5:00-10:00 and even that caused discomfort for days afterwards, it would quickly fall asleep sitting anywhere until it calmed back down a few days later. I figured I could start the GPP by just doing brisk walks, but do you have any basic advice to help my tolerance levels? Or if you think this may warrant a consult let me know.

I had an MRI a year and a half ago show no tears, the ortho just said it had ‘alot of inflammation’…whatever that means. In training I pull off blocks for now and that seems to help, I haven’t tried sumo deadlifts yet. Thanks for your input.

Hey, sorry to hear about your leg. Honestly, this does not sound so much like a tendinopathy as some type of compression on a nerve. Normally the “falling asleep” sensation is due to pressure not unlike when you arm falls asleep. The low hanging fruit question would be, are you able to alleviate the symptoms by changing position on the bike/rower? Are you having pain in your proximal hamstring? What is stopping you from deadlifting off the ground at this time?

That makes sense, maybe the doctor misdiagnosed it when it started. So far when I change positions or shift the seats it doesn’t seem to make a difference, just standing up makes it feel better but it will still have an ache for a day or two. I had a ‘flare up’ last month and quit using the bike to warm up and it made a pretty positive difference from my perspective.

Yes I do have pain in my proximal hamstring. I would describe it as a dull ache on a regular day to a deep clamping down feeling at it’s worst, all around my ischial tuberosity (sit bone?). It can also cause me to feel a light throbbing down the back of my leg to calve, but thats not as often. It mainly depends on what I do the day before, and from what I’ve learned from BBM it might be a ‘dosing’ issue more than anything.

That ‘flare up’ about a month ago after a ‘heavy’ deadlift session is why I started using the box for pulls, It causes that clamp and throbbing down my leg. I am almost back to the floor now and will try it on my day 2 for my new program. I’m in the Intermediate block 1. I don’t compete so its not a big deal to me if I pull high sometimes.

What has your training looked like for the last few months?

A starting strength-esque HLM, started in December.

Squat Heavy Squat medium
press Heavy Bench light Press medium
RDL Light Deadlift heavy Rack pull below knee medium

A starting strength-esque HLM, started in December.

RxS
Squat Heavy 3x3
Press Heavy 3x3
RDL Light 5x2

Bench light 5x4
Deadlift heavy 2x3

Squat medium 5x2
Press medium 4x3
Rack pull medium 5x2