The medically unexplained revisited

Abstract

Medicine is facing wide-ranging challenges concerning the so-called medically unexplained disorders. The epidemiology is confusing, different medical specialties claim ownership of their unexplained territory and the unexplained conditions are themselves promoted through a highly complicated and sophisticated use of language. Confronting the outcome, i.e. numerous medical acronyms, we reflect upon principles of systematizing, contextual and social considerations and ways of thinking about these phenomena. Finally we address what we consider to be crucial dimensions concerning the landscape of unexplained "matters"; fatigued being, pain-full being and dys-ordered being, all expressive momentums of an aesthetic of resistance.

Exploring the relationship between childhood adversity and oral health: An anecdotal approach and integrative view

“…In doing so, these ''pains'' blur the boundaries delineating the biomedical system of specialties [89]. In 45-90% of the cases, these ostensibly different syndromes actually formed complex patterns of ''overlapping disorders'', closely linking, for example, stomach pain with pain in the pelvis, the bladder, the mouth, the mandibular joint, the face, the head, the muscles, the joints, and connecting all these pains to the incapacitating state of being that is presently termed, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) [90]. In addition, a strong correlation has been found between ''overlapping pains'' and adverse experiences in general, and adverse childhood experiences in particular [16,91] (Fig.…”

What is called symptom?

“…This diversity of medical acronyms reflects not only a linguistic development, but also a linguistic bewilderment. Thereby, the ground is prepared for a potentially concealing and obfuscating regress regarding the interpretation of such phenomena (Eriksen et al 2013). Secondly, we have indicated how both the person with unexplained symptoms and the doctor face major communicational and other challenges in the clinical encounter.…”

“…The 'grasping' overshadows a possible receiving. With reference to the phenomenon(a) called ''medically unexplained conditions'', the phenomenon has a head start, the concept strives to catch up; we are groping in the dark (Eriksen et al 2013). …”

At the borders of medical reasoning: aetiological and ontological challenges of medically unexplained symptoms

“…As already mentioned, this fits well with the idea of reductionism, to which the bio-psychosocial model was intended as a better alternative. In this context, it seems natural to bring in the well-known allegory of the blind men and the elephant [41]. Each of the blind men were introduced to various parts of an elephant and subsequently asked to describe the character of the animal.…”