Perhaps it is a painful topic for a guy born and raised there, in the capital of Alberta.

I said, mentally kicking myself for bringing up another painful topic.

Race is such a big, complex, painful topic that no one knows where to start.

Once this painful topic had been raised, it refused to go away.

As if searching for a topic not so painful, he began to talk about the feyo tree.

I guessed he was glad to get off a topic painful to me, if only for a moment.

Though it was clearly a painful topic, he seemed to feel the need to explain.

I would not raise such a painful topic, but we all think it wise to tell you.

This means cutting back on specialties, a painful and controversial topic among the medical staff.

Even though it was a painful topic for him, he pushed forward.