"Healthcare providers, insurers, and the public need to understand that although pain is universal, it is experienced uniquely by each person, and care — which often requires a combination of therapies and coping techniques — must be tailored. Pain is more than a physical symptom and is not always resolved by curing the underlying condition. Persistent pain can cause changes in the nervous system and become a distinct chronic disease."
- Relieving Pain in American: A Blueprint for Transforming, Prevention, Care, Education, and Research, 2011: Institute of Medicine (IOM)