Ch 11- Pain Medicine: Terminology

Question 1

Acute pain

Answer 1

Pain, elicited by injury to tissues for a limited time; stops once the underlying pathology resolves

Question 2

Chronic pain

Answer 2

Pain for an extended time period that originated from underlying pathology,
which does not completely explain the extent of the pain

Question 3

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Answer 3

A chronic pain condition in a limb involving trophic changes, edema, vasomotor changes, and allodynia, typically after an injury or trauma.
Symptoms can vary in severity and duration.

Question 4

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type I

Answer 4

follows a non-neurological traumatic injury; formerly known as reflex sympathetic
dystrophy (RSD) or Sudeck’s atrophy

Question 5

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type II

Answer 5

ollows a known traumatic nerve injury; formerly known as causalgia

Question 6

Central pain

Answer 6

Pain initiating from the central nervous system (CNS)

Question 7

Radiculopathy

Answer 7

A pathologic process affecting the spinal nerve roots

Question 8

Hyperesthesia

Answer 8

An increased sensitivity to a stimulus

Question 9

Hypoesthesia

Answer 9

A decreased sensitivity to a stimulus

Question 10

Hyperalgesia

Answer 10

Increased pain from a stimulus that normally illicits pain

Question 11

Hypoalgesia

Answer 11

Diminished pain in response to a normally painful stimulus

Question 12

Hyperpathia

Answer 12

An abnormally painful reaction to a stimulus, often seen with a repetitive stimulus
or increased threshold

Question 13

Dysesthesia

Answer 13

An unpleasant sensation that is either evoked or spontaneous in nature

Question 14

Allodynia

Answer 14

Pain elicited from a non-painful stimulus

Question 15

Neuralgia

Answer 15

Pain in a distribution of a nerve or nerves

Question 16

Neuritis

Answer 16

Inflammation of a nerve or nerves

Question 17

Neurogenic pain

Answer 17

Pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction in the central or
peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 18

Neuropathic pain

Answer 18

Pain arising from a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system

Question 19

Nociceptive pain

Answer 19

Pain arising from actual or threatened nonneural tissue damage that conveys
painful information via afferent nociceptive fibers to the CNS

Question 20

Somatic pain

Answer 20

A type of nociceptive pain that is carried along a sensory fiber

Question 21

Visceral pain

Answer 21

A type of nociceptive pain that is carried along a sympathetic fiber

Question 22

Paresthesia

Answer 22

An abnormal sensation whether spontaneous or evoked

Question 23

Cancer pain

Answer 23

Pain associated with cancer disease or cancer treatments that may be damaging the
nervous system

Question 24

Transduction

Answer 24

Conversion of stimuli to nociceptive electrical impulses. Afferent sensory neurons
known as nociceptors transmit pain signals to the CNS

Question 25

Nociceptor types

Answer 25

mechanical,

thermal (heat/cold), and chemical

Question 26

Transmission

Answer 26

electrical activity conducted through the nervous system.
– Peripheral sensory cells and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) → spinal neurons → thalamus,
brainstem, and diencephalic structures

Question 27

Modulation

Answer 27

Alteration of neural activity along transmission, which occurs in DRG, spinal cord,
and supraspinal structures.

Question 28

Perception

Answer 28

Subjective sensation of pain from transmission and modulation, which occurs in
somatosensory cortices

Question 29

Describe A-β sensory fibers

Answer 29

12-14 microns, myelinated
Velocity: 30-60 ms
Touch, pressure,
vibration, proprioception

Question 30

Describe A-δ sensory fibers

Answer 30

6-8 microns, myelinated
Velocity: 10-15 ms
Sharp pain, light touch,
temp

Question 31

Describe C sensory fibers

Answer 31

<1 micron, unmyelinated
Velocity: <1.5ms
Dull/achy/burning pain,
temp