Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast

Dr. Michael Lenz MD
  • 4.8 (70)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

When I started this podcast—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. In the exam room, time is limited. But the need for understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia is vast. That’s why I created this space: to offer deeper education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told that fibromyalgia "isn’t real'" or that it’s "all in your head," I want you to know: I see you. I believe you. And you're not alone. This podcast is here to affirm what you’ve lived through and to explain the science behind what you’re experiencing. Whether you're living with fibromyalgia, supporting someone who is, or a healthcare professional seeking to better serve your patients, I hope you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insight drawn from my 28+ years as a medical doctor, pediatrician, internist, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist. Together, let’s bring compassion and clarity to a condition that’s too often misunderstood—and help make the invisible, visible. You can learn more at www.conqueringyourfibromyalgia.com.

  1. 1D AGO

    Trigeminal Neuralgia. It's MORE than you Realize

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Trigeminal Neuralgia Beyond Nerve Pain: Marsha’s Racing, Menopause, and Advocacy Story The episode explores trigeminal neuralgia as more complex than a simple nerve injury, often overlapping with nociplastic chronic pain features like widespread pain, fatigue, insomnia, and brain fog. Marsha, a longtime off-road racer, recounts an eight-year path to diagnosis after severe electric-shock facial and scalp pain, repeated ER visits, normal imaging, and feeling dismissed as drug-seeking. She describes TN as “torture,” worse than childbirth, and details treatments including carbamazepine, gabapentin, nerve blocks, and gamma knife, which provided about a year of relief but left facial numbness and corneal damage with vision loss. She also has Sjögren’s syndrome, concussion history, anxiety/depression, and discusses perimenopause/menopause timing, hormone therapy trials, and possible ADHD. Racing helps her cope mentally, though symptoms worsen after removing her helmet, and she emphasizes support groups, self-advocacy, and not giving up. 00:00 Trigeminal Neuralgia Beyond Nerves 05:05 Marsha’s First Symptoms 07:26 ER Visits and Misdiagnosis 08:35 Finally Getting a Diagnosis 09:38 Becoming an Advocate 13:49 What TN Feels Like 15:58 Neuropathic vs Nociplastic Pain 17:14 Treatments and Gamma Knife 23:13 Concussions and Early Clues 28:14 Hormones Menopause Connection 36:38 Racing as Therapy 39:23 Daily Management and Race Day Routine 41:42 Racing as Flow State 44:29 Adrenaline and Desert Races 46:46 TN Community and Daily Struggles 48:37 Fatigue Meds and Survival 52:13 Living Without a Cure 55:02 Faith and Being There 56:38 High School Trauma a Click here for the YouTube channel International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers. Joy Lenz Fibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start.  Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope.  If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    1h 20m

  2. MAR 11

    Fibromyalgia Is Not an Acceptable Diagnosis? Dr. Lenz Reacts

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Should You Accept a Fibromyalgia Diagnosis? Evidence-Based Response to “Don’t Accept Fibro” Claims Dr. Michael Lenz reacts to a naturopath’s claim that fibromyalgia is “not an acceptable diagnosis,” acknowledging that patients often feel invisible and that fibromyalgia is diagnosed by symptoms after ruling out other conditions, but arguing this does not make it illegitimate. He explains fibromyalgia as a nociplastic/central sensitization pain syndrome supported by evidence such as amplified pain signaling on functional neuroimaging, disrupted deep sleep, neurotransmitter differences, and overlap with conditions like IBS, chronic fatigue, migraines, and TMJ. He critiques functional-medicine claims that fibro is primarily due to mold toxicity, food sensitivities, adrenal fatigue, leaky gut, or mitochondrial dysfunction, noting limited or debunked evidence and potential harm from chasing costly “root causes.” He outlines evidence-based, multimodal management: restorative sleep, gentle aerobic exercise and pacing, CBT/pain reprocessing and neuroscience education, addressing ADHD/autism/anxiety, and medications such as SNRIs and gabapentinoids. 00:00 Why This Reaction 01:04 Naturopath Claim Setup 02:07 Invisible Illness Explained 03:12 What She Gets Right 07:31 Why Rejecting Is Harmful 07:49 Real Science Of Fibro 08:39 Functional Triggers List 09:04 Gut Microbiome Claims 13:39 Debunking Pseudodiagnoses 15:05 Evidence Based Treatment Plan 17:46 Should You Accept Diagnosis 18:50 Closing Takeaways Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    21 min

  3. MAR 4

    Understanding the Interplay Between ADHD, Trauma, and PTSD with Dr Iris Manor

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Dr. Iris Manor on ADHD, Trauma, PTSD, and Resilience: Risks, Mechanisms, and Treatment The host interviews Dr. Iris Manor, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and ADHD researcher, about links between ADHD and traumatic stress disorders, including a Denmark study finding children with ADHD are about 11 times more likely to develop PTSD. Manor distinguishes trauma exposure from traumatic stress disorders and describes behavioral risk (novelty-seeking, impulsivity) and shared neurobiology (hippocampus/ventromedial prefrontal networks, inflammatory cytokines), including possible transgenerational effects of maternal trauma. She argues ADHD and traumatic stress are usually separate but interacting diagnoses, and emphasizes resilience through structure, goals, and avoiding helplessness, noting ADHD makes these harder. She warns clinicians often stop stimulants after trauma despite potential benefit, recommends treating ADHD (and parents’ ADHD), and highlights emotional dysregulation requiring treatment (often guanfacine) to enable ADHD and trauma care. The discussion also covers overlap with chronic pain/fibromyalgia and long COVID, autism-related vulnerability, and disagreement with claims that ADHD is primarily caused by trauma. 00:00 Trauma and ADHD Link 03:11 Why Risk Is Higher 04:02 Biology and Inflammation 08:04 Which Comes First 09:49 Types of Trauma Examples 11:52 National Trauma Risk Groups 15:14 Covid and Chronic Pain 20:42 Resilience Rules and Structure 22:20 Treat ADHD During Trauma 26:39 Family Screening and Care 31:12 ADHD Impact on PTSD Treatment 33:33 Emotional Dysregulation Hierarchy 35:51 Guanfacine for Dysregulation 38:36 Autism Risk and Click here for the YouTube channel International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers. Joy Lenz Fibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start.  Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    1h 9m

  4. FEB 25

    Can Weather cause Abdominal Pain?

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Abdominal Migraines, Weather, and Early Fibromyalgia Clues: Pediatric Case and Listener Feedback The episode shares insights on fibromyalgia-related problems with a focus on the role of weather and activity in flareups and how symptoms can begin years before an adult fibromyalgia diagnosis. A pediatric case is presented of a 10-year-old boy with intermittent severe upper abdominal pain lasting hours to a day, nausea without vomiting, reduced appetite, and mild to moderate headaches, with no red-flag symptoms (no fever, diarrhea, bloody stools, weight loss, rash, bruising/petechiae, or joint swelling) and a normal physical exam. Family history includes migraines (maternal aunt), fibromyalgia (maternal grandmother), and restless leg/growing pains (father). The diagnosis is abdominal migraines, and the discussion emphasizes treatment approaches including restoring consistent exercise (noting a drop in activity during winter after basketball season), improving sleep regularity, considering coexisting restless leg syndrome and iron deficiency, maintaining a healthy diet, and screening for stressors and untreated ADHD. The episode also discusses how colder weather and shorter days can reduce activity and contribute to symptom worsening, and recommends tracking steps and adapting with indoor activity or appropriate clothing; it notes that extreme cold or heat can trigger fibromyalgia pain flares. Listener feedback includes praise for a five-part ADHD series with Dr. Dodson and a question about finding fibromyalgia care in Tampa, Florida, with guidance to start with primary care and noting rheumatologists often diagnose fibromyalgia after ruling out inflammatory disease. 00:00 Episode Overview 00:37 Pediatric Case Setup 01:54 Key History Questions 04:43 What Changed This Winter 06:42 Exam Findings 07:45 Diagnosis Abdominal Migraine 08:31 Treatment Basics 10:19 Weather Exercise Connection 14:56 Fibromyalgia Early Clues 15:49 Listener Feedback Q&A 16:42 Finding Fibro Care 17:53 Wrap Up and Goodbye Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    19 min
  5. Ep 242 Fibromyalgia in Men Goes Unrecognized

    FEB 19

    Ep 242 Fibromyalgia in Men Goes Unrecognized

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions The Hidden Fibromyalgia Epidemic: How Bias Leaves Millions Undiagnosed—and How AI Can Help The script explains fibromyalgia as a chronic, long-term condition marked by widespread pain, profound fatigue, cognitive difficulties (“fibro fog”), and related mood issues, affecting an estimated 2–4% of the U.S. population (7–14 million) but potentially far more due to underdiagnosis. It describes how the condition is often missed because it is “invisible,” lacks definitive objective tests, and commonly leaves patients in diagnostic limbo for about five years while being dismissed as stressed, depressed, or imagining symptoms. Although the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria rely on the Widespread Pain Index and Symptom Severity Score, the script argues diagnosis often fails at the moment clinicians don’t suspect fibromyalgia—driven by longstanding gender and age stereotypes that frame it as a middle-aged women’s disease. It highlights research showing that unbiased application of criteria yields a much closer gender split (about 59% female, 41% male), and that many more men report symptoms than receive diagnoses. The script centers on a study of over 21,000 pain-clinic patients who completed tablet questionnaires with a digital body map; an AI clustered pain patterns into nine groups and identified a “widespread heavy” cluster strongly associated with fibromyalgia, where patients were nearly 30 times more likely to have a fibromyalgia diagnosis than those with low back pain. Yet more than two thirds of patients flagged by the AI lacked a clinical fibromyalgia diagnosis; an objective “informatics proxy” applying the formal criteria found 66.3% of the widespread-heavy cluster met diagnostic criteria, while only 22.4% were diagnosed. The missed patients were more likely to be male and older, demonstrating diagnostic bias. Extrapolating from these findings, the script suggests the true U.S. population meeting criteria could be 21–42 million. It proposes integrating digital body maps and machine-learning alerts into clinic workflows to prompt unbiased evaluation, while emphasizing existing tools already work if applied. The script also frames fibromyalgia as nociplastic pain (central nervous system hypersensitivity), w Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    20 min

  6. FEB 11

    Ep 241 FIVE Lesser Known Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions 5 Lesser-Known Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Hidden Clues This episode addresses the frustration of constantly feeling pain and fatigue despite normal medical tests and discusses fibromyalgia as a possible cause. It highlights five often-missed symptoms of fibromyalgia: extreme skin sensitivity (allodynia), non-cardiac chest pain (costochondritis), vision problems and sensory overload, pelvic and bladder issues (similar to interstitial cystitis), and widespread burning, tingling, or numbness (paresthesia). The goal is to provide viewers with information and validation to facilitate better conversations with their doctors, helping them feel more in control of their health. The episode emphasizes that fibromyalgia symptoms are real and offers hope for a path forward. 00:00 Introduction: The Frustration of Unexplained Pain 00:24 The Mystery of Fibromyalgia 01:11 Symptom 1: Extreme Skin Sensitivity (Allodynia) 02:49 Symptom 2: Non-Cardiac Chest Pain (Costochondritis) 05:17 Symptom 3: Vision Problems and Sensory Overload 07:11 Symptom 4: Pelvic and Bladder Issues 09:10 Symptom 5: Widespread Burning, Numbness, and Tingling 11:05 Conclusion: Empowering Your Health Journey Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    14 min
  7. Ep. 240 Fibromyalgia Is Not An Acceptable Diagnosis?

    FEB 4

    Ep. 240 Fibromyalgia Is Not An Acceptable Diagnosis?

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Debunking Myths About Fibromyalgia Diagnosis: A Doctor's Reaction to Naturopathic Claims Dr. Michael Lenz reacts to a naturopath's controversial statements about fibromyalgia diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based medicine. He discusses the legitimacy of fibromyalgia as a real condition characterized by altered pain processing in the central nervous system. Dr. Lenz debunks myths about root causes like mold toxicity, food sensitivities, adrenal fatigue, and mitochondrial dysfunction, advocating for a holistic, science-based approach to managing these chronic invisible illnesses, also known as nociplastic pain syndromes, which fibromyalgia epitomizes. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Story 01:04 Controversy Around Fibromyalgia Diagnosis 01:56 Understanding Fibromyalgia: Symptoms and Diagnosis 03:12 Challenges with Fibromyalgia Diagnosis 04:58 Functional Medicine Perspective 13:39 Debunking Functional Medicine Claims 15:07 Evidence-Based Solutions for Fibromyalgia 18:50 Conclusion and Call to Action Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    21 min
  8. Ep 239 What Motion Sickness Teaches us about Fibromyalgia

    JAN 28

    Ep 239 What Motion Sickness Teaches us about Fibromyalgia

    Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Understanding Fibromyalgia Flares Through Motion Sickness in Autism and ADHD Join Dr. Michael Lenz as he explores the connection between motion sickness and fibromyalgia flares, particularly in individuals with autism and ADHD. Discover how sensory processing differences and predictive coding play a role in chronic pain and stress responses. Learn practical strategies for reducing unpredictability and supporting neurodivergent individuals living with fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes. Like, subscribe, and share for more science-based insights into chronic pain and neurodiversity. 00:00 Introduction: Motion Sickness and Fibromyalgia 00:37 Understanding Motion Sickness 01:32 Neurodivergence and Sensory Processing 02:09 Fibromyalgia and Sensory Mismatch 03:25 Managing Life with Neurodivergence 03:52 Compassionate Interventions 04:14 Conclusion: Insights and Support Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...

    6 min
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4.8
out of 5
70 Ratings

About

When I started this podcast—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. In the exam room, time is limited. But the need for understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia is vast. That’s why I created this space: to offer deeper education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told that fibromyalgia "isn’t real'" or that it’s "all in your head," I want you to know: I see you. I believe you. And you're not alone. This podcast is here to affirm what you’ve lived through and to explain the science behind what you’re experiencing. Whether you're living with fibromyalgia, supporting someone who is, or a healthcare professional seeking to better serve your patients, I hope you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insight drawn from my 28+ years as a medical doctor, pediatrician, internist, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist. Together, let’s bring compassion and clarity to a condition that’s too often misunderstood—and help make the invisible, visible. You can learn more at www.conqueringyourfibromyalgia.com.

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