Pain is an ancient and faithful companion to humankind. It appears in our lives as a guardian, like a warning light that flashes in our bodies to alert us that something has gone wrong, that we need protection, to stop, to pay attention. Without pain, we would be defenseless against the world and ourselves, unaware of the wounds and destruction that creep up quietly until it is too late. But at the same time, pain is a burden that can distort everyday life, turn life into an ordeal, and deprive a person of sleep, freedom, and self-confidence.

Chronic pain changes character, habits, relationships, and sometimes a person becomes not so much a patient as a prisoner of their own body. These people learn to live as if they are carrying an invisible burden that no one can share.

This issue is dedicated to pain—as a physiological mechanism and as a human experience. We will discuss it from different angles: from subtle neurobiology to life stories, from clinical observations to philosophical reflections. Because behind every term, every diagram, and every classification is a person—alive, suffering, seeking relief and hope. And perhaps by listening to the language of pain, we will better understand not only its nature, but also ourselves.

Enjoy reading!

Professor I.V. Egorov