- acute pain
- pain that is short in duration and caused by an acute event
- adjuvant analgesic
- medication that is not classified as an analgesic but has been found to have an analgesic effect with opioids
- affective response
- the emotional interpretation of pain, such as how uncomfortable the pain is
- algophobia
- the extreme fear of pain
- analgesic
- medication used to relieve pain
- basal rate
- the continuous rate of the medication that maintains effective pain management
- biofeedback
- a technique that uses visual or auditory feedback to control bodily functions such as heart rate and breathing patterns
- breakthrough pain
- pain that persists along with chronic pain even with pain interventions
- catastrophizing
- picturing the worst possible outcome for a situation
- chronic pain
- pain that persists for longer than three months
- cutaneous pain
- pain that is perceived from the skin and caused by heat, cold, or mechanical or chemical stimuli
- distraction
- a method that moves patients’ attention away from painful stimuli
- distress
- extreme physical or mental suffering such as pain, anxiety, or sadness
- etiology of pain
- the specific cause of pain
- fight-or-flight response
- the automatic response from the sympathetic nervous system to a perceived stressful or dangerous situation, which triggers the body to either run away from or fight the perceived threat
- first line therapy
- medical treatment that is recommended as the best option for the initial treatment of a disease or medical condition
- guided imagery
- a relaxation technique that uses images or scenes to invoke positive and relaxing feelings
- idiopathic pain
- chronic pain from an unknown origin
- massage
- a form of therapeutic touch where a professional uses touch and pressure to loosen tight muscles and tendons
- McCaffrey Initial Pain Assessment Tool
- a pain assessment tool that uses visual aids and questions including elements of the PQRSTU mnemonic to provide a comprehensive pain assessment
- modification of pain
- a change by the brain in the intensity of the pain signal based on the situation that originated the pain signal
- neuropathic pain
- pain caused by neurological damage or dysfunction
- neurotransmitter
- a chemical that carries messages between neurons to communicate throughout the body
- nociception
- the process by which painful stimuli are detected by nociceptors and send the pain signals from the peripheral nervous system to the brain
- nociceptive pain
- pain that originates in the peripheral nervous system from stimulation by heat, cold, or mechanical or chemical stimuli
- nociceptor
- a type of sensory receptor in the peripheral nervous system that responds to potentially damaging stimuli by sending nerve signals to the central nervous system
- nonopioid analgesic
- medication, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used for acute and chronic pain relief
- nonpharmacological therapy
- interventions that reduce pain without using medication
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- medication that provides mild to moderate pain relief while also reducing fever and inflammation by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins
- opioid analgesic
- powerful prescription medication that helps reduce pain by blocking pain signals
- parasympathetic nervous system
- the part of the autonomic nervous system that opposes the sympathetic nervous system and regulates automatic bodily functions in times of rest and relaxation
- patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
- a form of pain medication administration that allows hospitalized patients with severe pain to safely self-administer opioid medications using a programmed pump
- pharmacological therapy
- the use of medication to treat a disease, illness, or medical condition
- physical dependence
- a condition in which a patient experiences physical symptoms of withdrawal when stopping a medication
- physical therapy
- the use of exercise and movement to improve strength and flexibility
- physiologic response
- the body’s involuntary response to a stimulus such as inflammation or changes in heart rate and blood pressure
- physiological factor
- a physical factor that relates to a person’s perception of pain
- placebo effect
- an improvement in a condition, such as the lessening of pain, that occurs due to the patient believing a treatment will be effective
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- a psychiatric disorder in which a person experiences lingering effects triggered by a past traumatic event
- psychosocial factor
- a social factor that relates to a person’s perception of pain
- referred pain
- pain perceived at a location other than the site originating the painful stimulus
- somatic pain
- pain that originates in ligaments, tendons, bones, blood vessels, and muscles
- tolerance
- a built-up resistance of the body to a medication
- transduction of pain
- the starting point of the pain process when stimuli activate nociceptors to alert the brain
- transmission of pain
- the second step of the pain process when the pain signal is sent from the peripheral to the central nervous system
- visceral pain
- pain that is activated when internal organs such as the stomach and kidneys are damaged
- vocalization
- the use of sounds, noises, and words to express pain
- Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
- a visual pain assessment tool using drawings of different faces exhibiting increasing levels of pain