Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast Ep 232 What You Need to Know about Acute and Chronic Pain
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In this episode of the Conquering Your Fibromyalgia podcast, host Mike introduces the podcast's first medical doctor guest, Dr. Maureen Allen. Dr. Allen shares her extensive journey from being a nurse to becoming a family medicine physician and an emergency medicine expert in Nova Scotia, Canada. The episode dives deep into the complexities of managing chronic pain, explaining how palliative care intersects with chronic pain treatment and the challenges patients face in finding the right care. They discuss the distinctions between acute and chronic pain, the role of emergency departments, and the need for a bottom-up approach to pain management. Dr. Allen also highlights the importance of patient education and shares insights from her own practice to help listeners understand and manage chronic pain more effectively.
00:00 Welcome to the Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast
00:10 Introducing Dr. Maureen Allen
00:55 Dr. Allen's Medical Journey
01:54 Chronic Pain and Palliative Care
02:36 Addressing Misconceptions About Substance Use
04:00 Challenges in Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
05:39 Pain Education and Management in Canada
09:08 Emergency Departments and Pain Management
13:09 Understanding Chronic Pain Flare-ups
20:13 Patient Concerns and Misdiagnoses
23:29 Understanding Chronic Pain
24:22 Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain
25:30 Pain Protective Behaviors
27:33 The Role of Exercise in Pain Management
32:27 The Intersection of Anxiety and Pain
36:05 The Importance of Education and Support
40:29 Real Stories and Hope
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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...