Ch. 9 Pain Flashcards
nociception
technical name for pain, the activation of specialized nerve fibers that signal the occurrence of tissue damage
acute pain
short-term pain
chronic pain
recurring pain over a long period of time
psychogenic pain
purely psychological pain w/out physiological basis
neuropathic pain
pure nociception w/out significant psychological pain
somatic pain
physiological pain w/out specific tissue damage
transduction
process that takes place at the level of the receptors where chemical, mechanical, or thermal energy is converted in electrochemical nerve impulses
afferent fiber
sensory nerve fibers transmitting signals from the receptors to the spinal cord
ARS
modulation
the neural activity leading to the control of pain transmissions between the various parts of the brain
vital sign
5 basic measures that doctors get from patients
- temperature
- pulse
- blood pressure
- pain level
- respiration
pattern theory
idea that pain results from a combination impulses from nerve endings
- different patterns of stimulation caused different types of pain
specificity
idea that pain was a specific independent sensation such as heat or touch, w/ specialized receptors responding to specific stimuli
pain-prone personality
personality type that predisposes a person to experience persistent pain
diathesis-stress model
idea that some individuals may have physiological predispositions to certain factors such as depression, stress, or pain that interact w/ psychological factors to cause those outcomes
gate control theory
model of pain proposing that key processes in the experience of pain take place in the dorsal horn substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord & are influenced by the brain
counterirritation
process by which we may try to reduce pain by itching or poking a point on our skin around where the pain is felt
efferent pathway
sensory nerve fibers transmitting signals from the spinal cord to receptors in the skin & tissues
ESR
stimulation-produced analgesia
process by which electronically stimulating the brain can reduce pain
threshold
level of stimuli needed to experience something such as pain or stress
acetaminophen
painkiller
(ie) Tylenol
virtual reality
projection of realistic images w/out distractions
self-management program
treatment for pain relief that makes the patient w/ chronic pain the one w/ the major responsibility for making the change rather than the doctor or the health professional staff
tolerance
the amount beyond which pain becomes unbearable, and we cannot accept any more
stress-induced analgesia
pain relief produced when our body releases opioids when we are stressed
- a state than can also be induced by motor activity such as physical activity