Prodigy Flashcards
What is neuralgia?
Neuralgia is pain that follows the distribution of one or more peripheral nerves.
What is the definition of chronic pain?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that is associated with a negative sensory and emotional state and continues without interruption for at least 3 months.
What is allodynia?
Allodynia is the perception of an ordinarily non-painful stimulus as pain
What is dyesthesia?
Dyesthesia is the presence of an unpleasant sensation whether or not a causative stimulus is present.
What is hyperalgesia?
Hyperalgesia is an increased or exaggerated response to painful stimuli
What is paresthesia?
A paresthesia is any abnormal sensation (numbness, tingling, pins and needles sensation) that occurs without any stimuli
What is neuropathic pain?
Neuropathic pain is a dysfunction of the central nervous system caused by damage to neural structures. It results in the abnormal processing of pain.
What is phantom pain?
Phantom pain is the sensation of pain in a limb that has been amputated (the phantom limb).
What are the two types of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and what were their former names?
They are identified as CRPS I and CRPS II. CRPS I was originally referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy. CRPS II was originally referred to as causalgia
What are the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome?
Pain that occurs spontaneously without an apparent stimulus, hyperalgesia, allodynia, and sudomotor and vasomotor dysfunction.
Conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) utilizes which theory of pain modulation?
Although studies have not demonstrated conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of TENS units, it was developed based on the gate control theory of pain modulation in which pain perception could be modified by subjecting large nerve fibers to nonpainful stimuli.
How do antidepressants help control chronic pain?
Antidepressants provide analgesia by inhibiting the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, or both.
What nerve fibers are thought to exhibit dysfunctional activity in cases of neuropathic pain?
A fibers, which are myelinated, fast fibers responsible for cold temperature, pressure, and sharpness sensation, and unmyelinated C fibers, which are responsible for sensations such as touch, warmth, burning, and itching are thought to be implicated in neuropathic pain.
What is the fundamental pathology that is believed to underlie the allodynia and hyperalgesia associated with persistent painful stimuli?
The concept of wind-up (also called central sensitization) underlies these phenomena. Windup is a cyclical response to pain that produces an abnormal response to pain and a chronic pain sensation. Chronic C fiber stimulation can enhance the response to subsequent stimulation and result in neuronal excitability. As the cycle progresses, low level, nonpainful stimuli can begin to produce pain.
Which substances enhances the sensitivity of pain nerve endings but does not directly excite them?
Substance P and prostaglandins don’t directly stimulate the nerve endings, but they increase their sensitivity to other painful stimuli. Histamine, bradykinin, potassium, serotonin, acetylcholine, acids, and proteolytic enzymes are direct chemical stimulators.
What laminae constitute the dorsal horn? The ventral horn? What information do they transmit?
Laminae I thru VI constitute the dorsal horn, which represents the primary sensory component of the spinal cord. The ventral horn is comprised of laminae VII thru X and transmits somatic motor and autonomic functions.
What substance is responsible for transmission of fast pain into the central nervous system?
Glutamate is responsible for the transmission of fast pain sensation.
Are glutamate and substance P excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitters?
excitatory
What is the role of gabapentin in the treatment of chronic pain?
Gabapentin is a second-generation anticonvulsant that can be used in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, and other chronic pain and neuropathic pain syndromes.
What is the principal neurotransmitter responsible for activation of dorsal horn neurons in the transmission of noxious stimuli?
The principal neurotransmitter responsible for activation of dorsal horn neurons in the transmission of noxious stimuli is glutamate, although other neuropeptides such as substance P, calcitonin, gene-related peptide, adenosine triphosphate, somatostatin, and growth factors have also been implicated.
