Ben delves into the multifaceted experience of pain, beginning with a literary reference from Margaret Atwood. He shares personal anecdotes about blood draws, the insertion of a chemotherapy port, and the challenges of effectively communicating pain levels to healthcare professionals. Ben reflects on his nearly forty years’ experience living with Crohn's disease, exploring different ways to describe pain, and examines various strategies for pain management, including medications like acetaminophen and oxycodone, and the antidepressant duloxetine. The episode also highlights historical and cultural contexts of pain and invites listeners to contribute to a virtual medicine cabinet of motivational and entertaining resources.

00:00 Introduction and Literary Preface

01:34 Personal Anecdotes and Blood Tests

02:08 Chemotherapy Port Installation

05:31 Experiencing and Describing Pain

13:38 Pain Management Strategies

18:25 Upcoming Chemotherapy and Final Thoughts

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/pain

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