Researchers studying chronic pain - thought to be suffered by 7.8 million people across the UK* - want people in their 60s with the condition to contact them.
Chronic pain is an unexplained pain that lasts longer than three months and is difficult to treat.
It may or may not follow an injury - which would appear to have healed - and may manifest itself as lower back pain, muscle spasms, bone pain, arthritis or any other persistent ache in the body.
The problem can have a major impact on sufferers' lives, is estimated to cause millions of days off work and is a huge cost to the economy.
Now pain researchers at the University of Aberdeen want to hear directly from sufferers.
The internationally recognised Aberdeen Pain Research Collaboration is staging a series of seminars bringing together people with chronic pain with academics investigating the problem.
Dr Pat Schofield, who was worked in pain management for more than 20 years, explained: "We really want people who are 60 and over who suffer from chronic pain to come to our events which will be hosted by new and established researchers.
"The events will begin with a presentation by one of our chronic pain experts and then break out into little groups where we want to hear the experiences of people with chronic pain and what they think we should be looking at regarding the problem.
"It is really important that we do get input because the findings from our seminars will help shape our future research."
Travel expenses can be met for volunteers who should be able to get to the Foresterhill Health Centre at Foresterhill in Aberdeen for the sessions which will take place between 2pm and 4pm on January 26; June 2; October 28 and then March 18, 2010 and June 18, 2010.
People wanting to take part can attend one session or as many as they like.
Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Dr Pat Schofield on 01224 554854.