The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word ACHE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
C
H
E
More clues leading to the result ACHE
- First couple of children in A&E hurt
- A guerrilla gets hurt
- Continuous pain? One must ring hospital
- Pine tea chest's contents
- Long start for hole in one
- Henry’s in great pain
- Bill, the fellow being a pain
- Uncomfortable feeling inside teacher
- Suffer mental anguish in hospital visiting one
- Long hours in one's embrace
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ACHE mean?
ACHE noun- Continued dull pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain.
- To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.
- To cause someone or something to suffer pain.
- Parsley
- The name of the Latin-script letter H.