A revolutionary is a real pain (4)
I believe the answer is:
ache
'real pain' is the definition.
'ache' can be an answer for 'pain' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'real' bit.
'a revolutionary' is the wordplay.
'revolutionary' becomes 'che' (Che Guevara the Marxist revolutionary).
'a'+'che'='ACHE'
'is a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ache that I've seen before include "Continuous hurt" , "yearning" , "painful" , "suffering" , "Hurt; yearn" .)