

Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast
Dr. Michael Lenz MD
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 20, 2021 • 42min
Ep. 12 Acute vs Chronic Pain. What's the difference and more discussed on Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Maureen Allen
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Join in the continued conversation on understanding chronic pain with Dr. Maureen Allen. Dr. Lenz is an internist, pediatrician, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist with an interest in helping those with fibromyalgia and related problems go beyond just learning to live with to even reversing fibromyalgia. He is also the author of the book, "Conquering Your Fibromyalgia: Real Answers and Real Solutions for Real Pain. " It is also available on audiobook. You can also go to Conquerinyourfibromyalgia.com to read some blogs that Dr. Lenz has done on fibromyalgia.Fibromyalgia paper by Kevin Flemming mentioned by Dr. Allen.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Click here for the YouTube channel International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Oct 13, 2021 • 27min
Ep. 11 Two doctors passionate about caring for those with fibromyalgia discuss chronic pain
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Do you have fibromyalgia? Have you felt that your doctor and the doctors that care for your fibromyalgia are leaving you frustrated? If this is you then you will enjoy listening to Dr. Michael Lenz, MD, and Dr. Maureen Allen, MD of the Pain Talks podcast discuss chronic pain.The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here. You can also go to Conquerinyourfibromyalgia.com to read some blogs that Dr. Lenz has done on fibromyalgia.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Click here for the YouTube channel Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Oct 6, 2021 • 58min
Ep. 10 Interview with Millie Velez, Executive Director of the Fibromyalgia Care Society of America
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Millie joins me as she discusses her journey. We talk about her diagnosis. She was diagnosed after only a year of symptoms. The average time from symptoms is 6.5 years. We talk about what has helped her on her journey and learn more about FCSA. The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here. You can also go to Conquerinyourfibromyalgia.com to read some blogs that Dr. Lenz has done on fibromyalgia.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumsta Click here for the YouTube channel International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers. Joy LenzFibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Sep 29, 2021 • 19min
Ep. 9 "How bad is my fibromyalgia?" The FIQ-R. An important tool to assess progress with treatment
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this episode, Dr. Lenz discusses a useful tool that is known as the FIQ-R, Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. This is a tool used in research to help assess the impact of therapy. It also can be used by patients and their physicians to assess progress and the impact of interventions over time. The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. For the FIQR form click here.Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Sep 22, 2021 • 20min
Ep. 8 "Do I have Fibromyalgia?" Part 3
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this episode, Dr. Lenz looks at specific criteria used to diagnosis along with a careful history and physical exam, and appropriate labs.The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. For the ACR fibromyalgia criteria click here.Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Sep 15, 2021 • 21min
Ep. 7 "Do I have Fibromyalgia?" Part 2
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions In this episode, I dig deeper into understanding the difference between fibromyalgia-type pain from more life-threatening causes of chest pain. I use a couple of stories of patients who both had fibromyalgia like chest pain or a flare-up of fibromyalgia. Knowing the difference is important to build confidence in your understanding of fibromyalgia and related medical problems.The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Sep 8, 2021 • 22min
Ep. 6 "Do I have fibromyalgia?" Part 1
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions A fibromyalgia history is similar to histories of other medical problems but there are some important clues that can help discriminate these important differences. I share that having one diagnosis does not mutually exclude having the other diagnosis. Knowing these fibromyalgia-specific symptoms helps build greater insight into what you are experiencing. Building on that insight helps you understand what you are going through better and not some random, unpredictable problem you have no control over.For a link to the blog and show summary, click hereThe audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Sep 1, 2021 • 35min
Ep. 5 More than 90% of medical diagnoses are made through the history
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Understand the framework a doctor uses to make diagnoses which starts with the chief complaint, then the history of present illness, review of systems, and other past histories. This is foundational to understanding how a diagnosis is made. Next week Dr. Lenz will discuss fibromyalgia-specific symptoms and history.The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here. The blog of this episode is available here.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Click here for the YouTube channel Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Aug 25, 2021 • 19min
Ep. 4 The Cost of Delayed Diagnosis
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions The cost of a delayed diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be tremendous. There can be a huge impact due to the cost of unnecessary treatments or incomplete fixes. There is also the cost of lost income. In addition, there is also a big emotional cost to delayed diagnosis and incomplete management.The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia, is now available. You can get a copy of the book here. Blog and website available here.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, it is likely that hundreds of others have the same question. Remember this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition and any individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is provided as a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your individual circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding any symptoms and health concerns. Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...

Aug 19, 2021 • 33min
Ep. 3 What is Fibromyalgia?
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Dr. Lenz describes fibromyalgia. He differentiates structural medical problems which is the most commonly used paradigm for understanding medical problems and then discusses how fibromyalgia-like problems involve how the brain listens to stimuli and interprets them differently, in a noxious way. He offers hope to those through first a better understanding. He is the author of "Conquering Your Fibromyalgia: Real Answers and Real Solutions for Real Pain." The audiobook, Conquering Your Fibromyalgia is now available. You can get a copy of the book here. If you love the podcast, one of the ways to show your support is to check out the book.If you have questions or topics you would like to have discussed on a future podcast, email Dr. Lenz at doctormichaellenz@gmail.com. You can also share a recording of your question. If you have a question, hundreds of others will likely have the same question. Remember, this podcast is meant for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and should NOT be interpreted as medical advice for any medical condition or individual. It is also not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. The content presented is a starting point in your research and a helpful guide when discussing your circumstances with your trusted medical providers. All listeners are strongly urged to seek medical attention and guidance regarding symptoms and health concerns. Click here for the YouTube channel Support the showWhen I started this podcast—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. You’re not alone. 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 28+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.* ...