[Pain--psychological or physical].

The phenomenon of pain has four dimensions: somatic, psyche, social, cultural. This explains the potential difficulties of the therapeutical approach, which remains challenging especially with long standing patients. A global multidisciplinary therapy seems mandatory to enable any healing or, at least, a significant improvement of the quality of life. The analysis of four case histories shows the bio-psycho-socio-cultural components of pains. This gives the opportunity to consider the myth of Asklepios in relation to our present culture and to point out some practical advice.