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2007 CAS Medical Student Prize Winner The Evolution of Pain

Pain is one of the most basic and universal human experiences. It is shared among the diverse societies of the globe and has spanned human existence since its very beginnings. However, the pain people experience today has a different meaning from the pain of our ancestors. In the past, pain was caused by divine powers and accepted as normal. In today’s Western society, pain is viewed as undesirable and has a medical explanation rooted in science. It is defined as the “unpleasant sensory and emotional experience arising from actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.” There are still many mysteries involving pain. Pain itself can become a chronic illness and a challenge to modern medicine. This paper will examine the understanding of pain in the past, in our present society, and as an application for future management.