The Pain Free Formula

What could a game of pickleball, your cell phone, and lifting dead weight possibly have in common?
Stacey Roberts sits down again with her friend and orthopedic expert, physical therapist, and athletic trainer, Dr. Kim MacDonald, to unpack one of the most complex joints in the body. The shoulder gives us incredible mobility, but that same mobility makes it easy to injure and tricky to diagnose.
Stacey and Kim break down the anatomy in plain terms, the two habits quietly driving most shoulder pain, and the common diagnoses people fear on an MRI. They also cover what actually helps, from posture and prevention to smarter rehab and prehab before surgery.
You never realize how much you rely on your shoulders until you can't. Whether yours feel great or already ache at night, this one is worth your time. Listen now.

Timestamped Highlights
05:15 - The unforgettable "dead weight" injury no one sees coming
07:50 - The two everyday habits behind most shoulder pain
09:37 - Your shoulder anatomy, finally explained in plain English
11:10 - The three structures that make or break your shoulder
17:02 - Why the COVID pickleball boom wrecked so many shoulders
20:04 - The reason women often land in therapy sooner
21:18 - What your shoulder aching at night is trying to tell you
25:53 - Frozen shoulder and the "Saran Wrap" that locks it up
30:36 - What a rotator cuff tear on your MRI really means
41:03 - The popular rehab tool this expert refuses to use

About the Guest
Dr. Kim MacDonald, MPT, DPT, is a former nationally ranked gymnast and University of Florida athlete whose passion for injury prevention and recovery was shaped by both elite competition and a life-threatening health crisis that left her rebuilding from the ground up. With a B.S. in Sports Medicine from the University of Florida, a Master's in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University, and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine, Dr. MacDonald brings 29 years of experience across all ages and settings. Specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine, she is FMS and SFMA-certified and founded Crimson Therapies to provide personalized, hands-on care. Her mission is to empower patients to take control of their mobility, strength, and long-term wellness.

Connect with Dr. Kim MacDonald
Website: Crimson Therapies
LinkedIn: Dr. Kim MacDonald

Important Links
Pain-Free Formula Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pain-free-formula/id1802518411

Free eBooks - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com/ebooks
Biomechanics: When Movement Matters
Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Pain - The Gut Joint Axis: A Missing Link to Joint and Muscle Health
Hormones: A Missing Piece in Pain Relief

Stacey’s Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.ca/Pain-Free-Formula-Solving-Injections/dp/0998183717
New You Health and Wellness Website - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com

If you click on these Amazon links New You Health and Wellness may receive a small commission should you decide to purchase.

About the Host
Stacey Roberts, PT, MBA, MSN, RN, is an Amazon bestselling author, physical therapist, registered nurse, and functional medicine specialist with 30+ years of experience. She founded and runs New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her program, detailed in her book, The Pain-Free Formula, Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs or Injections, has helped thousands overcome chronic pain and reclaim their vitality.

The Pain-Free Formula Podcast is brought to you by Stacey Roberts. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Medical Disclaimer
Information in this program, as well as any information provided by New You Health and Wellness and its subsidiaries, is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging that we supply. Do not use the information on this website or podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard in this program. Information provided in this program and any other presented by New You Health and Wellness LLC, and the use of any products or services purchased from New You Health and Wellness LLC by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship or healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the health professionals affiliated with our website or clinic. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing stated or posted on this site or in this podcast or available through any services is intended to be and must not be taken to be the practice of medical or counseling care. For purposes of this agreement, the practice of medicine and counseling includes, without limitations, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or providing healthcare, treatment instructions, diagnosis, prognosis or advice.

What if the cramps, poor sleep, and joint pain you have learned to live with come down to one overlooked mineral?
A patient's stubborn hamstring cramps sent Stacey Roberts looking at magnesium, the quiet mineral behind symptoms most people just live with, including the irregular heartbeat she resolved in her own life.
She breaks down how magnesium supports bone strength, heart rhythm, blood sugar, sleep, and joint and muscle pain, then walks through the best food sources and which supplement form fits which goal, from citrate to glycinate to L-threonate.
If you have written off cramps, poor sleep, or nagging pain as part of getting older, this one may change your mind. Listen now.

Timestamped Highlights
[00:01:23] The patient cramp that pointed Stacey to a missing mineral
[00:02:27] The irregular heartbeat she was told to just live with
[00:04:14] How magnesium quietly shapes mood, blood sugar, and weight
[00:05:05] The anti-inflammatory link between magnesium and joint pain
[00:06:11] The everyday foods that restore your magnesium
[00:07:17] Why dark chocolate earned a spot on the list
[00:08:03] Citrate and the bioavailability detail most people miss
[00:10:12] Which form to pick for sleep, and which for your skin
[00:12:04] Why a normal blood test can still miss a deficiency
[00:13:24] The symptoms that hint your magnesium is too low

Mentioned Resources
ConsumerLab

Important Links
Pain-Free Formula Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pain-free-formula/id1802518411

Free eBooks - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com/ebooks
Biomechanics: When Movement Matters
Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Pain - The Gut Joint Axis: A Missing Link to Joint and Muscle Health
Hormones: A Missing Piece in Pain Relief

Stacey’s Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.ca/Pain-Free-Formula-Solving-Injections/dp/0998183717
New You Health and Wellness Website - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com

About the Host
Stacey Roberts, PT, MBA, MSN, RN, is an Amazon bestselling author, physical therapist, registered nurse, and functional medicine specialist with 30+ years of experience. She founded and runs New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her program, detailed in her book, The Pain-Free Formula, Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs or Injections, has helped thousands overcome chronic pain and reclaim their vitality.
The Pain-Free Formula Podcast is brought to you by Stacey Roberts. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Medical Disclaimer
Information in this program, as well as any information provided by New You Health and Wellness and its subsidiaries, is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging that we supply. Do not use the information on this website or podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard in this program. Information provided in this program and any other presented by New You Health and Wellness LLC, and the use of any products or services purchased from New You Health and Wellness LLC by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship or healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the health professionals affiliated with our website or clinic. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing stated or posted on this site or in this podcast or available through any services is intended to be and must not be taken to be the practice of medical or counseling care. For purposes of this agreement, the practice of medicine and counseling includes, without limitations, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or providing healthcare, treatment instructions, diagnosis, prognosis or advice.

What if the new pain that showed up out of nowhere actually started with an injury you had years ago?
Stacey Roberts woke up one morning to searing heel pain with no injury to explain it. As a physical therapist of 30-plus years, she recognized plantar fasciitis right away. What surprised her was the real cause.
She traces it back to a knee injury months earlier and the way her body had quietly compensated ever since. She explains how faulty movement patterns, a tight calf, and shifting hormones in perimenopause and menopause can team up to create pain that seems to come from nowhere.
If you are active again in your late 30s to 60s and pain keeps popping up, this episode shows why chasing the sore spot or reaching for hormones first can miss the real trigger. Listen now.

Timestamped Highlights
00:01:29 The polka move at a family wedding that changed everything
00:02:21 Why Stacey said no to the knee replacement her doctor pushed
00:03:19 The morning heel pain hit like a nail through the foot
00:04:16 What plantar fasciitis really is, and the tug-of-war behind it
00:05:51 The quiet compensation pattern that set the whole thing off
00:07:35 How hormones sneak into the joint pain conversation
00:09:05 The rubber band that explains what estrogen does for your tissue
00:12:54 Why reaching for hormones first can be the wrong move
00:14:46 New pain with no injury? Where to actually look
00:16:31 Pickleball, weekend warriors, and the niggly injuries that follow
00:20:08 The scratch on your hand that explains how healing really works
00:21:46 The one trigger behind 70 to 80 percent of the pain she sees

Resources
SoftWave therapy, used in Stacey's clinic to help accelerate tissue healing
Stacey's plantar fasciitis program, the movement and exercise approach she used to resolve her own heel pain.

Important Links
Pain-Free Formula Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pain-free-formula/id1802518411

Free eBooks - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com/ebooks
Biomechanics: When Movement Matters
Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Pain - The Gut Joint Axis: A Missing Link to Joint and Muscle Health
Hormones: A Missing Piece in Pain Relief

Stacey’s Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.ca/Pain-Free-Formula-Solving-Injections/dp/0998183717
New You Health and Wellness Website - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com

The Pain-Free Formula Podcast is brought to you by Stacey Roberts. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

About the Host
Stacey Roberts, PT, MBA, MSN, RN, is an Amazon bestselling author, physical therapist, registered nurse, and functional medicine specialist with 30+ years of experience. She founded and runs New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her program, detailed in her book, The Pain-Free Formula, Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs or Injections, has helped thousands overcome chronic pain and reclaim their vitality.

Medical Disclaimer
Information in this program, as well as any information provided by New You Health and Wellness and its subsidiaries, is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging that we supply. Do not use the information on this website or podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard in this program. Information provided in this program and any other presented by New You Health and Wellness LLC, and the use of any products or services purchased from New You Health and Wellness LLC by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship or healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the health professionals affiliated with our website or clinic. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing stated or posted on this site or in this podcast or available through any services is intended to be and must not be taken to be the practice of medical or counseling care. For purposes of this agreement, the practice of medicine and counseling includes, without limitations, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or providing healthcare, treatment instructions, diagnosis, prognosis or advice.

What if the very medication you take to stop your pain is quietly making it worse?
We have all been told to reach for a pill at the first sign of pain. But what if that quick fix is quietly working against you? In this solo episode of The Pain-Free Formula Podcast, Stacey Roberts breaks down what the research is now revealing about NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, and why shutting down inflammation too soon can backfire.

Stacey explains the body’s natural healing process, why the pro-inflammatory phase actually matters, and how taking these medications too early and too often may lead to longer healing times, more sensitivity to pain, and even chronic pain. She also shares what to do instead, from the POLICE method to smart icing intervals to finding the real reason your pain flares at night.

If you keep a bottle of pain relievers in your purse, your car, or on your nightstand, this episode will change how you think about that habit. Listen now.

Timestamped Highlights
[00:01:05] – The little pill that might be secretly sabotaging your recovery
[00:02:34] – The bottle in your purse, your car, your nightstand
[00:02:55] – What if stopping inflammation too soon stalls your healing?
[00:03:42] – Follow the money: what pharma spends to keep you reaching for pills
[00:05:48] – Occasional use vs early and often: where the real risk begins
[00:06:42] – A crowded airport bus and the moment that stuck with Stacey
[00:08:49] – The scratch on your hand that explains your entire healing process
[00:09:50] – Why getting ahead of the pain can set you up for chronic pain
[00:11:28] – How the medicine meant to dull pain can make you feel more of it
[00:12:33] – The POLICE method: exactly what to do instead
[00:13:41] – Love heat? Here is why you should always ice after
[00:15:57] – How SoftWave therapy can cut weeks off healing
[00:16:53] – Aching at night and can’t sleep? What Stacey suggests instead
[00:18:29] – The smoke alarm analogy that flips how you see pain

Resources
From this episode, here is what Stacey suggests trying instead of reaching for a pill:
Find the trigger and remove it. For a scratch, you stop scratching. For pain, find what is aggravating the area and take it away.
Use short icing intervals for an analgesic effect without stalling healing. Roughly 10 minutes of ice on, 20 minutes off, repeated. Avoid long sessions of 20, 30, or 40 minutes or more.
Follow the POLICE method: Protection, Optimal Loading (gentle movement and range of motion), Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
If you use heat for relief, ice afterward to help the body clear the area and counteract the extra blood flow.
For pain that flares at night, look at systemic inflammation and root causes rather than relying on nightly medication.

Important Links
Pain-Free Formula Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pain-free-formula/id1802518411

Free eBooks - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com/ebooks
Biomechanics: When Movement Matters
Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Pain - The Gut Joint Axis: A Missing Link to Joint and Muscle Health
Hormones: A Missing Piece in Pain Relief

Stacey’s Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.ca/Pain-Free-Formula-Solving-Injections/dp/0998183717
New You Health and Wellness Website - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com

About the Host
Stacey Roberts, PT, MBA, MSN, RN, is an Amazon bestselling author, physical therapist, registered nurse, and functional medicine specialist with 30+ years of experience. She founded and runs New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her program, detailed in her book, The Pain-Free Formula, Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs or Injections, has helped thousands overcome chronic pain and reclaim their vitality.

The Pain-Free Formula Podcast is brought to you by Stacey Roberts. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Medical Disclaimer
Information in this program, as well as any information provided by New You Health and Wellness and its subsidiaries, is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging that we supply. Do not use the information on this website or podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard in this program. Information provided in this program and any other presented by New You Health and Wellness LLC, and the use of any products or services purchased from New You Health and Wellness LLC by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship or healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the health professionals affiliated with our website or clinic. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing stated or posted on this site or in this podcast or available through any services is intended to be and must not be taken to be the practice of medical or counseling care. For purposes of this agreement, the practice of medicine and counseling includes, without limitations, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or providing healthcare, treatment instructions, diagnosis, prognosis or advice.

What if the treatment that finally ended your pain was the one you were most sure would fail?
After more than 30 years in healthcare, Stacey Roberts had watched miracle machines come and go, so when a friend dragged her to a demo of Softwave therapy, she showed up as the skeptic in the room, expecting snake oil.
Then she watched her friend Laura's shoulder pain disappear in about ten minutes. In this episode, Stacey shares the story that turned her from doubter to believer, the pelvic pain patient who wept when the pain finally stopped, and the science of how broad-focused shockwaves calm inflammation, restore blood flow, and wake up the body's own healing.
If you have been told to live with your pain, or you have tried everything and still hurt, this story might change what you believe is possible. Listen now.
Timestamped Highlights
[00:01:17] Why this episode is personal, and the eye-roll that started it all
[00:02:56] The claim that made her stop cold about Softwave
[00:11:48] Water and electricity in one device? What an electrohydraulic wave really is
[00:15:29] How the machine found calcific tendonitis without Laura lifting her arm
[00:17:01] The three words that broke 30 years of skepticism
[00:17:32] One treatment, then two years pain-free, until pickleball
[00:23:33] The dirty secret of shockwave: some devices don't make a shockwave at all
[00:24:08] The scratch on your hand that explains how healing really works
[00:25:54] The polka injury that changed how she thinks about arthritis and pain
[00:35:18] The pelvic pain story that ends with three words from a husband
[00:44:53] What Softwave really does, in Stacey's own words
Resources
The Pain-Free Formula by Stacey Roberts - Chapter 7 covers Softwave therapy.
Softwave therapy is made by Softwave TRT.
To learn more or see if Softwave is a fit, call New You Health and Wellness at 414-299-8121 or visit the website below.

Important Links
Pain-Free Formula Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pain-free-formula/id1802518411
Free eBooks - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com/ebooks

Biomechanics: When Movement Matters
Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Pain - The Gut Joint Axis: A Missing Link to Joint and Muscle Health
Hormones: A Missing Piece in Pain Relief

Stacey’s Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.ca/Pain-Free-Formula-Solving-Injections/dp/0998183717
New You Health and Wellness Website - https://newyouhealthandwellness.com

About the Host
Stacey Roberts, PT, MBA, MSN, RN, is an Amazon bestselling author, physical therapist, registered nurse, and functional medicine specialist with 30+ years of experience. She founded and runs New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her program, detailed in her book, The Pain-Free Formula, Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs or Injections, has helped thousands overcome chronic pain and reclaim their vitality.
The Pain-Free Formula Podcast is brought to you by Stacey Roberts. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Medical Disclaimer
Information in this program, as well as any information provided by New You Health and Wellness and its subsidiaries, is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging that we supply. Do not use the information on this website or podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard in this program. Information provided in this program and any other presented by New You Health and Wellness LLC, and the use of any products or services purchased from New You Health and Wellness LLC by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship or healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the health professionals affiliated with our website or clinic. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing stated or posted on this site or in this podcast or available through any services is intended to be and must not be taken to be the practice of medical or counseling care. For purposes of this agreement, the practice of medicine and counseling includes, without limitations, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or providing healthcare, treatment instructions, diagnosis, prognosis or advice.