ch.36 Flashcards
acute pain
episode of pain that lasts from seconds to less than 6 months
adjuvant
drugs typically used for other purposes, but also used to enhance the effect of opioids by providing additional pain relief
analgesic
pharmaceutical agent used to relieve pain
breakthrough pain
temporary flare-up of moderate to severe pain that occurs even when the patient is taking around-the-clock medication for persistent pain
chronic pain
episode of pain that lasts for 6 months or longer; may be intermittent or continuous
cutaneous pain
superficial pain usually involving the skin or subcutaneous tissue
diversion
enkephalins
opioids that are widespread throughout the brain and dorsal horn of the spinal cord and are believed to reduce pain sensation by inhibiting the release of substance P
exacerbation
period in chronic illness when the symptoms of the disease reappear
gate control theory
theory that explains that excitatory pain stimuli carried by small-diameter nerve fibers can be blocked by inhibiting signals carried by large-diameter nerve fibers
neuromodulators
theory that explains that excitatory pain stimuli carried by small-diameter nerve fibers can be blocked by inhibiting signals carried by large-diameter nerve fibers
neuropathic pain
pain that results as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting abnormal functioning of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) or central nervous system (CNS)
nociceptive pain
pain from a normal process that results in noxious stimuli being perceived as painful
nociceptors
pain receptors
nociplastic pain
opiod
more correct term for narcotic analgesics, since these drugs act by binding to opiate receptor sites in the central nervous system
pain threshold
amount of stimulation required before a person experiences the sensation of pain
pain tolerance
point beyond which a person is no longer willing to endure pain (i.e., pain of greater duration or intensity)
phantom pain
sensation of pain without demonstrable physiologic or pathologic substance; commonly observed after the amputation of a limb
placebo
Latin word meaning, “I shall please”; an inactive substance that gives satisfaction to the person using it
referred pain
pain in an area removed from that in which stimulation has its origin
remission
period in a chronic illness when the disease is present, but the person does not experience symptoms of the disease
somatic pain
pain originating in structures in the body’s external wall
-tendons, ligaments, bones
visceral pain
pain originating in the internal organs in the thorax, cranium, or abdomen
