Most of us think pain is simple: you get hurt, a signal travels to your brain, and it hurts. But what happens when there’s no injury to see, and no one believes you?
In Part 1 of the Figuring It Out podcast, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what pain actually is, how the way experts define it has changed, and why chronic pain can be real even when scans show nothing.
They also ask why some people are believed more than others. From the gender pain gap to the years it can take to get an endometriosis diagnosis, they look at how stereotypes shape whose pain is taken seriously.
No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.
We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.
Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.
Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.
","author_name":"Dr Alex George"}