Training induced arthritis

[Matt Nieveen]

My wife (31 yo) has been doing the program for almost a month. She has cystic fibrosis, and we had a baby on 4/15.

Before pregnancy she was training (not SS method) and experiencing joint pain, to the point she couldn’t open things because her hands hurt so badly. It was diagnosed as “cystic fibrosis related arthritis.” During pregnancy she ceased training, and the arthritis went away. As I said, she has been back to training (this time SS method) and the arthritis has come back.

The solution cannot be to stop training, but that is a hard sell if seemingly every time she lifts she is in pain again.

Numbers are 5’3, 150 lbs, squat 105 x 5, bench 80 x 5, dead 180 x 5, press 60 x 5.

Any ideas on how to proceed?

[Mark Rippetoe]

There is no such thing as "training-induced arthritis." Proceed with very small incremental increases, twice a week.

[Matt Nieveen]

She is 12 sessions in. Is it typical for females to require small jumps that quickly? From my understanding the weight on the bar has not been an issue, but based on your response she must not be recovering quickly enough for the typical 3 session a week progression. If smaller increments are already necessary, when would it be appropriate to also switch to 5 sets of 3?

[SouthernLifter]

I find it very auspicious that shes capable of move an 81 kg deadlift with such physical problems. Try to make her to lift 82 next time, then 83, then 84, etc. And see what happens !!

[HailMary]

Consider the hormone milieu during pregnancy may have given her temporary relief from the CFRA.

[Mark Rippetoe]

She is 12 sessions in. Is it typical for females to require small jumps that quickly? From my understanding the weight on the bar has not been an issue, but based on your response she must not be recovering quickly enough for the typical 3 session a week progression. If smaller increments are already necessary, when would it be appropriate to also switch to 5 sets of 3?

She probably can tolerate bigger jumps, but we're catering to her fear, remember. Her "doctor" has already fucked this up, so manage it carefully.