Pain

Question 1

Technique in which a battery-powered device blocks pain impulses from reaching the spinal cord by delivering weak electrical impulses directly to the surface of the skin

Answer 1

Transcutaneous Simulation

Question 2

Dosage form that contains no pharmacologically active ingredients but may relieve pain through psychological effects

Answer 2

Placebo

Question 3

Method of pain control in which the patient creates a mental image, concentrates on that image, and gradually becomes less aware of pain

Answer 3

Guided imagery

Question 4

Point at which a person is not willing to accept pain of greater severity or duration

Answer 4

Tolerance

Question 5

Observable activity in the nervous system that allows one to detect pain; Protective physiological series of events—- transduction, transmission, perception, and modulation— that brings awareness of actual or potential tissue damage; the normal pain process

Answer 5

Nociception

Question 6

First process of nociception; converts energy produced by noxious stimuli into electrical impulses, beginning in the periphery when the pain-producing stimulus sends an impulse across a peripheral pain nerve fiber, known as a nocireceptor

Answer 6

Transduction

Question 7

Second process of nociception; Nociceptive impulses are transmitted from the site of injury to the brain

Answer 7

Transmission

Question 8

Third process of nociception; The brain interprets the quality of the pain and processes this information making one aware of nociceptive impulses and perceives pain, resulting in one’s reaction

Answer 8

Perception

Question 9

Fourth and final phase of nociception; Neurons activate endogenous descending inhibitory mediators to help produce an analgesic effect, hindering the transmission of nociceptive impulses

Answer 9

Modulation

Question 10

A temporary increase in pain in someone who has been relatively stable and an adequately controlled level of baseline pain; Occurs spontaneously or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger

Answer 10

Breakthrough pain

Question 11

Combination of drugs with at least two different mechanisms of action to optimize pain control, which allows for lower-than-usual doses of each medication, lowering the risk of side effects

Answer 11

Multimodal analgesics

Question 12

Known as coanalgesics; Drugs that are originally developed to treat conditions other than pain but also have analgesic properties

Answer 12

Adjuvant

Question 13

A type of breakthrough pain not associated with any known cause and is often chronic

Answer 13

Idiopathic

Question 14

Pain that results from a pathology or disease of the somasensory system, often described as “burning”, “sharp”, or “shooting”

Answer 14

Neuropathic

Question 15

Combination of drugs with different underlying mechanisms being administered on a time schedule by being rotated

Answer 15

Multimodal

Question 16

Alternative therapy that helps one take control of certain involuntary bodily functions, like your heart rate and breathing to help manage chronic pain

Answer 16

Biofeedback

Question 17

The body builds up a natural tolerance to a medication and has to have the medication to maintain status-quo after long-term use of the medication

Answer 17

Dependence

Question 18

A strong craving to use medication; can affect one’s brain and behavior

Answer 18

Addiction