Answer extracted from the Cliterally Obsessed podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How does exercise help you recover from serious physical injury and chronic pain?
Strength training became Sarah Denny's pathway out of nearly two years of debilitating sciatica pain that prevented her from walking, sleeping, cooking, and cleaning. Rather than relying solely on medications that caused unwanted weight gain, she prioritized building muscle through lifting, which not only resolved her physical injury but restored her quality of life.
When sciatica-type pain consumed almost two years of Sarah Denny's life, it wasn't just physical—it was total. The pain stripped away basic daily functions, making even simple activities impossible. She found herself prescribed medications to manage the condition, but faced a difficult trade-off: the medications caused significant weight gain, adding another layer of frustration to her recovery journey.
Rather than accept this as inevitable, Denny made a deliberate shift in her recovery strategy. She chose strength training and weight lifting as her primary tools for healing, an approach that went beyond pain management and became a rebuilding process. The focus on building muscle mass and functional strength didn't just address the physical injury—it gave her a sense of agency and purpose during a vulnerable time.
This wasn't just about Denny's story. As discussed in the episode, Dr. Rebecca Chase, the family doctor on Cliterally Obsessed, shared a parallel experience with her own back injury. Once her injury resolved, Chase also prioritized becoming as strong as possible, recognizing that strength was both a preventive measure and a form of empowerment.
The common thread in both their recovery stories reveals something crucial: exercise isn't merely a symptom treatment for chronic pain—it's a catalyst for regaining physical function and psychological resilience. By shifting from a passive approach (relying on medication alone) to an active one (deliberate strength-building), both women reclaimed their bodies and their lives.
For anyone navigating recovery from serious injury or chronic pain, this approach suggests that the goal isn't just to reduce pain—it's to rebuild strength, capacity, and confidence. The process required time, consistency, and a willingness to view recovery as an active project rather than something that simply happens. This mindset appears to be as important as the physical training itself, as noted in the full conversation on Listenly.
"If I'm going to gain weight, I'm going to just make it a bulk and really just try to put on as much muscle as I possibly can."
Sarah Denny — Personal trainer and power lifter with 10 years of coaching experience. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 21 and endometriosis at age 15, Denny's early health challenges initially kept her away from exercise. After a doctor's recommendation at age 24, she began her fitness journey, working at Good Life Fitness for five years before transitioning to independent online coaching. She applies her hard-won understanding of chronic conditions and physical limitation to inspire her clients and demonstrate that strength is possible at any starting point.
Denny's reframing of medication-induced weight gain—transforming a side effect into an intentional opportunity for muscle building—reveals a deeper truth about recovery. Rather than viewing the 165-to-190-pound weight gain as a setback, she leveraged it as motivation to direct that mass toward functional strength. Her eventual peak of 197 pounds wasn't a failure to lose weight; it was the byproduct of a deliberate strength-building phase that fundamentally changed how she felt in her body. This psychological shift, paired with the physical results, helped break the cycle of pain and limitation.
For more insights into body image, physical transformation, and the psychology of recovery, listen to the full episode on Listenly.
See also
How does medication-induced weight gain affect body image and what strategies can help reframe it positively?
Sarah Denny experienced weight gain from medication side effects, gaining from 165 to 190 pounds within a few months while managing sciatica pain. Rather than accepting this as permanent, she reframed it as an intentional opportunity to build muscle through strength training.
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How does Wicked Wanda's staff approach customers who appear uncomfortable in the store?
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