Berger J
Curr Rev Pain. 2000;4(4):313-23. doi: 10.1007/s11916-000-0109-0.
Although the feeling or sensation that we call pain is usually uncomfortable and unpleasant, it is actually a great asset in many situations in general medicine, especially when we think of children and older people. Were it not for a persistent complaint or expression of pain, family members or others might not realize that a small child or older person has suffered a significant injury or is ill. Indeed, at any age, the symptom of pain may be an important indication that a disease may be present. For young children, the sensation of pain can also be a learning experience, teaching them to take extra care with such items as hot stoves or broken glass. All those situations in which injury, disease, or something of a physical nature has caused pain are universally understood without any disagreement. We see in them a logical sequence of cause and effect. The focus of this article is on those patients who complain of pain for a long period of time but in whom no physical disease has ever been found.
虽然我们称之为疼痛的感觉通常令人不适且不愉快，但实际上在普通医学的许多情况下，它都是一项巨大的资产，尤其是当我们想到儿童和老年人时。如果没有持续的疼痛主诉或表达，家庭成员或其他人可能不会意识到小孩或老人遭受了重大伤害或生病。事实上，在任何年龄，疼痛症状都可能是疾病存在的重要迹象。对于幼儿来说，疼痛的感觉也可以是一种学习经历，教会他们格外小心诸如热炉子或碎玻璃之类的东西。所有因受伤、疾病或某种身体原因导致疼痛的情况都得到普遍理解，毫无争议。我们在其中看到了因果的逻辑顺序。本文的重点是那些长期抱怨疼痛但从未发现身体疾病的患者。
