- abnormal pain
- pain that moves beyond the expected severity and duration and may require additional medical treatment
- acupuncture
- pain management technique that includes the insertion of thin steel needles into the skin to stimulate specific points throughout the body
- acute pain
- short-term pain, typically lasting from minutes to up to three to six months
- addiction
- most severe form of SUD, in which there is continued use of the substance despite negative consequences
- adjuvant
- (also, coanalgesic) medication that has an independent effect and also additive analgesic properties when administered with opioids
- alternative therapy
- treatment used in place of pharmacological pain management
- analgesic
- medication used to prevent or treat pain
- animal-assisted therapy
- treatment that utilizes animals to reduce pain, anxiety, or depression
- aromatherapy
- inhalation or dermal application of essential oils
- behavioral pain scale (BPS)
- tool used to assess and quantify pain in acute sedated ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs)
- breakthrough pain
- sudden increase in pain that lasts for a short time
- ceiling effect
- point at which the effect of a drug plateaus, so that increasing the dose will not increase the effect
- chiropractic therapy
- pain management technique that manipulates the spine, joints, and skeletal system
- chronic pain
- pain lasting longer than six months
- coanalgesic
- (also, adjuvant) medication that has an independent effect and also additive analgesic properties when administered with opioids
- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- psychological treatment in which patients are taught how to manage and cope with pain more effectively by changing their negative thought pattern, identifying and reducing stressors that exacerbate pain perception, and focusing on adapting to pain in situations when pain cannot be eliminated
- complementary therapy
- treatment used in combination with pharmacological pain management
- critical-care pain observation tool (CPOT)
- standardized assessment tool used in critical-care settings to evaluate pain in critically ill patients who are unable to communicate their pain
- dependence
- inability to function without the use of a substance
- FACES scale
- visual tool for assessing pain with children and others who cannot quantify the severity of their pain on a numerical scale
- FLACC scale
- pain scale used to assess pain in children between the ages of 2 months and 7 years, as well as those unable to verbally communicate
- guided imagery
- positive, relaxing images created in the mind
- hypnosis
- creation of a trance-like state to enhance awareness of feelings, thoughts, and sensations
- massage
- pain management technique that manipulates the soft tissues of the body to relieve tension and create relaxation
- meditation
- practice of breathing and repeating certain words to reduce stress and put the mind at ease
- mindfulness
- practice of focusing on the present moment to create awareness of thoughts, feelings, the body, and the environment
- neuropathic pain
- pain caused by damage to nerves or other parts of the nervous system
- nociceptive pain
- pain caused by damage to body tissue
- nociceptor
- type of sensory receptor that responds to potentially damaging stimuli by sending nerve signals to the spinal cord and brain
- nonopioid
- medication that is not an opioid
- normal pain
- pain of the expected severity and duration, according to its cause
- numerical rating scale (NRS)
- pain scale that rates pain on a scale of 0 to 10
- opioid
- class of drug derived from opium, a chemical sourced from poppy plants
- opioid use disorder (OUD)
- type of SUD caused by a problematic pattern of opioid use leading to physical dependence
- pain
- uncomfortable or unpleasant sensation that typically signifies injury or illness
- pain assessment in advanced dementia (PAINAD) scale
- pain scale used to assess pain in patients with advanced dementia
- patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
- practice of allowing the patient to self-administer opioid medications using a programmed pump
- phantom pain
- pain perceived to be coming from a missing body part
- pharmacological therapy
- treatment that involves drugs or medications
- physical therapy
- manipulation of joints and soft tissues to restore functional ability and quality of life
- referred pain
- pain in one part of the body that is caused by pain in a different location of the body
- reflexology
- pain management technique that applies massage to specific pressure points aligned with the body in the hands and feet
- reiki
- pain management technique in which one person uses lightly placed hands to guide energy throughout another person’s body
- somatic pain
- pain experienced in the muscles, skin, or bone
- substance use disorder (SUD)
- disorder that occurs when the repeated use of alcohol and/or other drugs significantly impairs a person’s health and results in an inability for them to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home
- tai chi
- practice that combines exercise and meditation with slow body movement and controlled breathing
- therapeutic exercise
- stretching and strengthening routines that can help to improve muscle strength and flexibility, reduce joint stiffness, and enhance range of motion
- thermotherapy
- application of heat or cold to alter the cutaneous, intra-articular, and core temperatures of soft tissues
- tolerance
- state of requiring more of a drug over time to achieve the same level of pain relief
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy
- treatment that delivers low-voltage electrical current to reduce pain
- visceral pain
- pain experienced in the internal organs
- withdrawal
- physical and mental symptoms experienced when a person suddenly stops or decreases the use of an addictive substance
- yoga
- practice of using specific stretches, poses, meditation, and controlled breathing to balance the mind and body