Acupuncture – ancient practice of placing thin needles in specific points of the body for the purpose of treating an ailment
Acute pain – rapid, severe onset of an unpleasant sensation which lasts a short time
Analgesics – group of medications designed to minimize pain
Anesthetic – a substance that creates a reversible loss of sensation
Anti-inflammatory – a substance or treatment which decreases swelling
Arthritis – swelling in one or more joints resulting in pain and limited mobility
Bradycardia – a heartbeat slower than normal
Central Pain – pain caused by dysfunction or damage to part of the central nervous system
Cervical vertebrae – the first seven bones starting below the skull and extending to the thoracic spine
Chronic pain – the unpleasant sensation associated with an injury or disease that lasts past the healing process
Delirium – confused thoughts, disorientation, rapid changes in metal state
Delta receptors – opioid receptors, Delta-1 and Delta-2, which are a topic of study regarding pain management
Drowsiness – abnormally sleepy, with a desire to fall asleep at incorrect times
Dynorphin – naturally occurring central nervous system opioid
FDA - Food and Drug Administration
Hallucination – a sensory experience without stimulus which does not exist past the interpretation of the individual afflicted
Headache – pain in the scalp, head, or neck
Hives – skin eruption, usually red and itchy
Hypothermia – body temperature below a normal level which results in an inability to maintain body functions
Ligaments - fibrous tissue that anchors bone to bone as seen in joints
Miosis – an decrease in size of the pupil of the eye
Nausea – the sensation of needing to vomit
Nerve Block – injection of a substance into or near a nerve for the purpose of decreasing pain
Opioids – a substance created to bind with the opioid receptors of the body to displace the sensation of pain
Orthostatic Hypotension – condition in which the blood pressure makes a sudden drastic drop after a change in position
Overdose – take more than the prescribed amount
Pain – an unpleasant sensation commonly associated with injury
Painkillers – a substance used to decrease pain
Pain management – medical branch of therapy dedicated to easing the discomfort and suffering of patient dealing with pain
Pain medicine – substances used in the treatment of pain
Pain Relief – a reprieve from unwelcome and unpleasant sensations
Rotator Cuff – the muscles and tendons which firmly hold the shoulder in place
Sciatica – term used to describe an irritation of the sciatic nerve prompting pain or numbness in the lower back and down the leg
Semi-synthetic opiate/opioid – substance directly derived from the opium poppy used in pain management
Side Effects – the unintended or undesirable effects an individual experiences from the use of a substance
Synthetic opiate/opioid – a substance that has been created to mimic the effects of the opium poppy
Tachycardia – a heartbeat which is faster than normal
Tramadol – an opioid medication used to treat moderate to severe pain
Trigger Point – sites of the skeletal muscle which when pressure is applied cause pain
Tumor – abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells, can be benign or malignant in nature
Urinary retention – inability to urinate
Vomiting – explosive push of stomach contents out of the mouth and occasionally the nose