46 | Should I Stay Ahead of the Pain?

Ever find yourself thinking, “I’m doing everything right, so why does my pain keep coming back?” If pain feels like a stubborn villain sabotaging your workouts, sapping your energy, and making you question your body, you’re not alone.

In this empowering solo episode, Stacey Roberts blends science and empathy to unveil the hidden reasons pain lingers after 40, from sneaky hormonal shifts to misunderstood gut triggers and what most PTs never discuss. You’ll discover why “just push through” makes things worse, what actually works to calm an inflamed system, and how to reframe pain as your body’s call for change, not a personal failure.

Don’t wait! Every day spent guessing is a day lost to joy. Listen now to unlock hope and next steps that could change everything. This approach is compassionate, practical, and simply not taught anywhere else.

Timestamped Highlights

1. [00:00] – Why “powering through” your pain may actually set you back for years
2. [00:01:46] – You’re stretching, exercising, doing ALL the right things… so why is your body still screaming?
3. [00:03:13] – What started as an injury may not just be about your muscles or joints anymore—prepare to unlearn what you thought you knew
4. [00:04:41] – How aging unlocks a “layer cake” of inflammation, nervous system sensitivity, and hormonal chaos
5. [00:05:44] – The massive blind spot around hormones—even the cleanest eaters can hurt if this is off
6. [00:07:59] – When standing, food, or your old workouts suddenly unleash pain: what changed, and what you can control
7. [00:09:04] – Eating “healthy” doesn’t guarantee relief: the gut-joint link that’s quietly driving pain
8. [00:13:47] – When exercise hurts instead of helps: breaking the myth of “no pain, no gain” in your 40s and 50s

References:

Using These Common Painkillers After Surgery May Be Slowing Recovery – New Study Finds. https://scitechdaily.com/using-these-common-painkillers-after-surgery-may-be-slowing-recovery-new-study-finds/

RICE Method – Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/rice-method

Laumet, S., Edwards, A. M., Inyang, K. E., & Laumet, G. (2025). Unexpected Role of TNFα Signaling in the Resolution of Postoperative Pain in Mice. Journal of Pain Research. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S543971

Tazreean, R., Nelson, G., & Twomey, R. (2022). Early mobilization in enhanced recovery after surgery pathways: current evidence and recent advancements. Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 11(2), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.2217/cer-2021-0258

Important Links