algogenic:
Something which sensitizes nociceptors (pain receptors). Things such as histamine, potassium and substance P are algogenic, and are typically released locally at sites of injury.
Definitions: Signs & Symptoms
allodynia:
When a sensation that is not normally painful is felt to be painful. An example is a light brush against the skin being painful.
analgesia:
When a stimulus producing pain is not felt as painful. This may be due to nerve dysfunction or medications. After a dentist places local anesthetic, you may feel pressure but not pain if analgesia has been achieved.
anesthesia dolorosa:
A combination of an area that is 'numb' (anesthesia), but at the same time is painful.
causalgia:
Neuropathic pain that can be attributed to a nerve injury. If there is no known nerve injury, it cannot be causalgia.
central pain:
Pain that is caused/ sustained by a process in the central nervous system (CNS). This means an injury that has healed, but produced changes in the CNS may still be felt as painful.
dural puncture headache:
A headache caused by a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through a hole in the dura. The lack of CSF is believed to cause tension on the vascular and nervous structures. It typically resolves spontaneously.
dysesthesia:
An abnormal sensation that is unpleasant.
formication:
A discomfort described as bugs crawling on the skin. It is commonly associated with delirium tremens (alcohol withdrawal).
gate control theory:
A model for pain mechanisms. It describes how nerve fibers that don't cary pain signals can block the passage of pain signals to the brain. It 'explains' why rubbing a sore spot can help it feel better.
hyperalgesia:
Being unusually sensitive to a painful stimulus. This is different from being a 'wimp'. This seems to be a result of changes to sensitivity to stimulus in the nerves.
hyperesthesia:
Being unusually sensitive to a stimulus. Note that it may apply to non-painful stimuli.
hyperpathia:
An unusually painful response to a stimulus. An example woud be a pin prick that, instead of just being 'painful' is excrutiating/ disabling.
hypoalgesia:
A reduced response to a painful stimulus.
hypoesthesia:
A reduced response to stimuli, not just pain (but it may include pain).
incident pain:
Pain that comes on (typically quickly) due to a specific event, such as putting weight on a painful joint. This can occur in both chronic pain patients (in addition to an underlying chronic pain) or in 'healthy' individuals.
meralgia paresthetica:
Typically described in the thigh ( lateral femoral cutaneous nerve distribution), it is a tingling discomfort, with reduced sensation in the same area.
mononeuropathy:
A neuropathy involving a single nerve.
neuralgia:
Pain that follows the distribution of one or more nerves. An example of this is sciatica, where the pain is along the leg in areas supplied by that nerve and its branches.
neuritis:
An inflammation of the nerve(s). Without inflamation, you can't have neuritis.
neurogenic pain:
Caused or maintained by dysfunction or injury in a nerve or nerves. If the dysfunction is short lived, this term may be used rather than neuropathic pain.
neuropathic pain:
Pain caused or maintained by dysfunction or injury in the nerve(s).
neuropathy:
A dysfunction in the nerve(s). This does not have to be painful. It may cause tingling or other sensations.
nociception:
Detection of something which is potentially damaging to the body. It may not actually produce damage, but it it the 'sensory' aspect of pain.
noxious stimulus:
A stimulus that may cause damage to tissue (like the heat from a fire). This is the normal stimulus for nociceptors.
pain:
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, caused by actual or possible tissue injury.
pain threshold:
The smallest amount of pain that is able to be percieved. This may vary by factors in the environment, as well as the individual.
pain tolerance:
The most pain a subject is willing to tolerate.
paresthesia:
An abnormal sensation (not an unpleaseant one, which would be dysesthesia). Tingling after hitting your 'funny bone' would be a paresthesia if it is not painful to you, but a dysesthesia if it is.
phantom pain:
Pain that is felt in a limb which has been amputated. It tends to resolve in amputation patients (where it is very common), although some people may have persistant pain.
polyneuropathy:
A neuropathy involving multiple nerves. An example is diabetic neuropathy, where all the nerves to a foot (for example) may be effected.
referred pain:
Pain that is felt in areas other that those being exposed to potentially damaging stimuli. The most common example of this is the pain in the arm and neck someone may feel during a heart attack.
sensitization:
A nerve or receptor can be made to respond more intensely to a stimulus, or respond to a stimulation it would normally ignore, in certain circumstances. This is being 'sensitized'.
suffering:
The 'emotional' component to pain. It may be present to varying degrees, and can be far 'worse' than the nociceptive component.
tabetic pain:
Also called 'lancinating', it is a lightning type of pain. The name is from its occurance in tabes dorsalis, a complication of syphilis.
threshold stimulus:
The lowest stimulus measured that produces a sensation.
