The author of the article argues that many health professionals are unaware of the extent to which such aspects of language as metaphor influence their practice. The article suggests that sensitivity to metaphor can deepen our understanding of healthcare and, arguably, improve its quality. This is because metaphors (e.g. the ones used in pain management), and the linguisticality of which they are a part, shape medical practice in important ways. By exploring the dialogical tension between such metaphors, we can better understand the ways in which they influence medical practice.