I personally think that the itching sensation is way worse than pain. You can eventually toughen out the pain and get used to it. But itching...? Ohhhh it irks me.
I've been dealing with Chronic pain for the better part of a year now and I've coped (despite how bad it is). So I'll choose pain. Itching is just annoying and irksome.
I'm dealing with chronic pain since few years and chronic itching in the summer, because I have sun allergy. And I choose pain, even if painkillers don't really work on me. I just get used to it. You can't get used to freaking itching.