150 episodes
Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast Dr. Michael Lenz MD
-
- Health & Fitness
The podcast and book were started with my patients in mind. Due to time restrictions, I recognized the need for more education on fibromyalgia and related illnesses. If you have not checked out the book, the podcast is meant to supplement what was covered there. Many people worldwide will never be able to see me as their doctor, and I hope this podcast offers valuable insights, information, and wisdom from a medical doctor using a multifaceted evidence-based approach from the perspective of a pediatrician, internist, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist. If you are a doctor or another health care professional caring for those with invisible illnesses, I hope these serve you well. Many people have either been told or read that fibromyalgia isn't real or that it is just all in their heads. This misunderstanding, unfortunately, causes harm and is a disservice to those suffering. If you are one of the estimated more than 10 million people in the United States who are suffering from fibromyalgia, then you know it is real. If you don't have fibromyalgia, you will, at a minimum, gain a deeper understanding of what you or your loved one is experiencing. If you have fibromyalgia, you will feel validated for what you have endured. I have over 27 years of experience as a doctor and am continuing to learn about medical problems, including invisible illnesses like fibromyalgia and related problems. You can learn more by visiting www.conqueringyourfibromyalgia.com.
-
Ep 149 Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and What is a Pain Recipe?
Understanding and Managing Fibromyalgia: Strategies for a Better Quality of Life
In this episode, Dr. Michael Lenz discusses Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and explores the 'pain recipe' concept as a framework for understanding and managing fibromyalgia. He addresses common myths about the condition, emphasizing its reality as a medical issue that affects the brain and central nervous system's processing of pain signals. The episode provides insights into symptoms, triggers, diagnosis criteria, and management strategies, including medication, exercise, and holistic approaches. Dr. Lenz highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to treatment and shares personal stories from individuals with fibromyalgia to illustrate the diverse factors that can influence symptom flare-ups and relief. The discussion extends to the broader challenges of navigating the healthcare system for those with fibromyalgia and related conditions. Dr. Lenz, who is also the author of 'Conquering Your Fibromyalgia' and host of the related podcast, aims to offer research-backed, comprehensive care advice to those dealing with this complex and often misunderstood condition.
00:00 Welcome to Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Special
00:10 Understanding Fibromyalgia: Myths, Management, and Misconceptions
02:30 Meet Your Host: Dr. Michael Lenz
04:37 Exploring the Pain Recipe: Insights from the Fibromyalgia Community
05:49 Personal Stories: Managing Fibromyalgia Symptoms
15:27 Comprehensive Care and the Future of Fibromyalgia Management
22:02 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
The fibromyalgia starter pack categorizes the episodes in a way that is more accessible for those new to fibromyalgia.
Support the Show.
A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. -
Ep 148 Journey Towards Holistic Healing: A Conversation with Fibromyalgia Coach Georgie Coghlan Part 1
Navigating Fibromyalgia with fibromyalgia coach Georgie Coghlan: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing
This is the first episode in a 3 part in-depth interview with Georgie Coghlan, a holistic fibromyalgia coach who shares her personal journey from being diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2003 to finding ways to manage and improve her symptoms outside mainstream medicine. The discussion encompasses her early symptoms, struggles with the healthcare system, and eventual path to recovery by addressing not just the physical but also psychological and environmental aspects of the condition. Insights on a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual-environmental approach towards treating chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive care model are discussed. The episode also covers the significant impact of lifestyle choices and the environment on health and the complexity of diagnosing and treating overlapping conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
00:00 Meet Georgie Coghlan: A Journey from Fibromyalgia Patient to Holistic Coach
00:36 Understanding Fibromyalgia: A Holistic Medical Perspective
02:19 Georgie's Personal Battle with Fibromyalgia and the Quest for Healing
03:34 Exploring the Biopsychosocial Model for Fibromyalgia Treatment
08:23 Georgie's Early Symptoms and Misdiagnosis Journey
18:09 Lifestyle Factors and Their Impact on Fibromyalgia
22:29 The Psychological Toll of Chronic Pain and the Path to Recovery
28:48 Summary and Key Takeaways from Georgie's Story
To contact Georgie go to the www.befriendingthebody.com
The fibromyalgia starter pack categorizes the episodes in a way that is more accessible for those new to fibromyalgia.
Support the Show.
A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. -
Ep. 147 Listener Feedback and answering one listener's request for help with her autistic child struggling with Abdominal Migraines.
Listener Feedback and Understanding Abdominal Migraines
00:00 Welcome
01:02 Introducing the Podcast: A Holistic Approach to Fibromyalgia
02:46 Listener Feedback: Stories of Hope and Healing
12:24 Exploring Abdominal Migraines and abdominal pain in autistic individuals
17:29 Diet, Gut Health, and Autism: Insights and Treatment Options
27:20 Pain Recipes and Closing Thoughts
Support the Show.
A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. -
Ep. 146 Enhancing Care for Chronic Invisible Illnesses Through Understanding and Alliance. Part 3
In this last episode of the series with Laura Hogan and Sarah Meuler, both specialized physical therapists, they discuss the significance of patients sharing their personal stories encompassing childhood, strengths, and traumas. They underline the therapeutic value of building trust through listening to patients' narratives, especially for those living with chronic invisible illnesses such as POTS, fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
00:00 Welcome to the Interview Series on Chronic Invisible Illnesses
00:27 The Power of Patient Stories in Physical Therapy
02:11 Building a Therapeutic Alliance and Addressing Emotional Aspects of Chronic Pain
05:34 Understanding the Complexity of Chronic Pain Management
07:51 The Importance of a Comprehensive Approach in Physical Therapy
11:56 Prevention and Family Involvement in Managing Chronic Conditions
24:00 Closing Thoughts and the Future of Physical Therapy
The fibromyalgia starter pack categorizes the episodes in a way that is more accessible for those new to fibromyalgia.
Support the Show.
A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. -
Ep. 145 Empowering Patients with Invisible Illnesses Part 2
This episode is part 2 of the conversation with physical therapists Lauren Hogan and Sarah Mueler, discussing the lack of updated physical therapy care for patients with chronic invisible illnesses. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding one's condition for better management, debunking the 'no pain, no gain' philosophy, and the role of self-monitoring and journaling in recognizing the body's responses to different activities. Special attention is given to empowering patients to take control of their healthcare, the challenges and strategies for managing conditions like POTS and fibromyalgia, and the overall goal of re-establishing a sense of control for those dealing with invisible health conditions.
00:00 Introduction to Chronic Invisible Illnesses and Physical Therapy Insights
01:03 Understanding Pain and Gaining Control
02:25 Empowering Patients in Their Healthcare Journey
04:27 The Role of Journaling and Activity Monitoring in Managing Chronic Conditions
16:16 Navigating the Challenges of POTS and Autonomic Conditions
20:09 The Power of Listening and Personalized Care in Physical Therapy
25:09 Concluding Thoughts and Key Takeaways
The fibromyalgia starter pack categorizes the episodes in a way that is more accessible for those new to fibromyalgia.
Support the Show.
A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. -
Ep. 144 Beyond the typical Physical Therapy: Informed Approaches to Chronic Pain Part 1
In this podcast episode, hosted by Dr. Michael Lenz, guests Dr. Sarah Mueler and Lauren Hogan, both doctors of physical therapy, share their insights on managing chronic pain and related conditions like Fibromyalgia, POTS, Ehlers Danlos, and Chronic Fatigue syndrome. They discuss the multidimensional approach required for managing such conditions, detailing their personal journeys into physical therapy, the generalized training physical therapists receive, and the importance of specialized knowledge in chronic pain syndromes. They emphasize the role of the central nervous system in pain perception and the strategies they use for treating patients with nociplastic, centralized, or chronic overlapping pain syndromes, including the significance of patient education on pain understanding, highlighting the impact of education on reducing pain, and fear associated with chronic conditions.
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast: Unveiling the Power of Physical Therapy
01:28 Introducing Our Special Guests: Trailblazers in Physical Therapy
01:50 The Personal Journeys into Physical Therapy: Dr. Sarah Mueler and Lauren Hogan
03:41 Understanding the Scope of Physical Therapy: From Generalists to Specialists
04:43 Navigating the Complexities of Chronic Pain Syndromes in Physical Therapy
08:15 The Long Game: Tailoring Physical Therapy for Chronic Conditions
10:17 Decoding Pain: The Challenge of Diagnosing and Treating Nociplastic Pain
21:29 Empowering Patients: Strategies for Managing Nociplastic Pain
25:29 Wrapping Up Part One: The Importance of Understanding Pain
The fibromyalgia starter pack categorizes the episodes in a way that is more accessible for those new to fibromyalgia.
Support the Show.
A Fibromyalgia Starter Pack, which is a great companion to the book Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. Dr. Michael Lenz practices general pediatrics and internal medicine primary care, seeing patients from infants through adults. In addition, he also will see patients with fibromyalgia and related problems and patients interested in lifestyle medicine and clinical lipidology. To learn more, go to ConquringYourFibromyalgia.com. Remember that while Dr. Lenz is a medical doctor, he is not your doctor. All of your signs and symptoms should be discussed with your own physician. He aims to weave the best of conventional medicine with lifestyle medicine to help people with chronic health conditions live their best lives possible. Dr. Lenz hopes that the podcast, book, blog, and website serve as a trusted resource and starting point on your journey of learning to live better with fibromyalgia and related illnesses.