Chapter 35

Question 1

Acute pain

Answer 1

episode of pain that lasts from seconds to less than 6 months

Question 2

Addiction

Answer 2

Patter of compulsive use of addictive substances for means other than prescribed

Question 3

Adjuvant

Answer 3

drugs typically used for other purposes, but also used to enhance the effect of opioids by providing additional pain relief

Question 4

Analgesic

Answer 4

pharmaceutical agent used to relieve pain

Question 5

Breakthrough pain

Answer 5

temp flare up of moderate to severe pain that occurs even when the patient is taking around the clock med for persistent pain

Question 6

Chronic pain

Answer 6

epsiode of pain that last for 6 months or longer; may be intermittent or continous

Question 7

cutaneous pain

Answer 7

superficial pain usually involving skin or subcutaneous tissue

Question 8

Dynorphin

Answer 8

the endorphin having the most potent analgesic effect

Question 9

endorphins

Answer 9

morphine like substances released by body that appear to alter the perception of pain

Question 10

enkephalins

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Exacerbation

Answer 11

period of chronic illness when symptoms reappear

Question 12

Gate control theory

Answer 12

theory that explains the excitatory pain stimuli carried by small diameter never fibers can be blocked by inhibiting signals carried by large diameter nerve fibers

Question 13

intractable

Answer 13

severe pain that is extremely resistance to relief measures

Question 14

Modulation

Answer 14

process by which the sensation of pain is inhibited or modified

Question 15

Neuromodulators

Answer 15

endogenous opioid chemical regulators that appear to have analgesic activity and alter pain perception

Question 16

Neuropathic pain

Answer 16

pain that results as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting abnormal functioning of the peripheral nervous system or central nervous system
*burning, electric, tingling or stabbing

Question 17

Neurotransmitters

Answer 17

substances that either excite or inhibit target nerve cells

Question 18

nociceptive pain

Answer 18

pain from a normal process that results in noxious stimuli being perceived as painful

Question 19

nociceptors

Answer 19

pain receptors AKA peripheral receptors

Respond to mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli

Question 20

opioid

Answer 20

more correct term for narcotic analgesics, since drugs act by binding to opiate receptor sites in CNS

Question 21

Pain threshold

Answer 21

amount of stimulation required before a person experiences the sensation of pain

Question 22

Pain tolerance

Answer 22

point beyond which a person is no longer willing to endure pain

Question 23

perception

Answer 23

conscious process of organizing and interpreting date from the senses into meaningful information

Question 24

Phantom pain

Answer 24

a sensation of pain without demonstrable physiologic or pathologic substance; commonly observed after amputation

Question 25

Physical dependence

Answer 25

phenomenon in which the body physiologically becomes accustomed to an opioid and suffers withdrawals symptoms if opioid is suddenly removed

Question 26

Placebo

Answer 26

Latin word meaning, “I shall please”; an inactive substance that gives satisfaction to the person using it

Question 27

Psychogenic pain

Answer 27

pain for which no physical cause can be identified

Question 28

referred pain

Answer 28

pain in an area removed from that in which stimulation has it orgin

Question 29

remission

Answer 29

period in chronic illness in which disease is present but the person has no symptoms

Question 30

somatic pain

Answer 30

pain originating in the structures in the body external wall

Question 31

tolerance

Answer 31

occurrence of the body becoming accustomed to an opioid and needing a larger dose each time

Question 32

Transduction

Answer 32

Activation of pain receptors - converts painful stimuli to electrical impulses that travel from the periphery to spinal cord at the dorsal horn

Question 33

transmission

Answer 33

conduction of pain sensations from the site of an injury or inflammation along clear and unclear pathways to the spinal cord and them on to higher centers

Question 34

visceral pain

Answer 34

pain origination in the internal organs in the thorax, cranium or abdomen

Question 35

What are the 4 specific physiologic processes involved in nociception (ability to feel pain)

Answer 35

Transduction - activation of pain receptor
Transmission - site of pain to spinal cord and up
Perception - sensory process
Modulation of pain - neuromodulators, bind to opioid recptor sites in CNS & block pain

Question 36

What are other substances released that stimulate nociceptors?

Answer 36

Bradykinin- vasodilator & releases histamine
Prostaglandins - a hormone-like substance
Substance P - sensitizes receptors on nerves and increases rate of firing of nerves

Question 37

WHat are the neurotransmitters?

Answer 37

Prostaglandins
Substance P
serotonin

Question 38

What are the 2 opioid neuromodulators?

Answer 38

Endorphins - powerful, pain-blocking chemicals
Enkephalins - less potent than endorphins but reduce pain by release substance P