How are ADHD and chronic pain connected?

If you have ADHD or autism, research shows you’re at a much higher risk for developing chronic pain — a connection many doctors and patients still don’t know about. In this episode of Hyperfocus, we talk with a doctor who’s trying to change that.

Dr. Michael Lenz, a Wisconsin-based pain specialist, explains what the medical community is discovering about the connection between ADHD, autism, and chronic pain, including conditions like fibromyalgia and migraines. He also shares stories from his practice, including times when treating a patient’s ADHD unexpectedly improved their chronic pain symptoms.

For more on this topic:  

• Dr. Lenz’s podcast and book
• The Weak Link: Hypotonia in Infancy and Autism Early Identification - PMC
• ADHD-pain: Characteristics of chronic pain and association with muscular dysregulation in adults with ADHD
• Order friend of the show Craig Thomas’ book 
• NIH study on joint hypermobility 

For a transcript and more resources, visit Hyperfocus on Understood.org. You can also email us at hyperfocus@understood.org.

Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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