• Glossary

Glossary

Pain Resource Centre Dictionary

The Canadian Pain Coalition recognizes that pain-related words are often confusing and difficult to understand. To assist our members, families, and friends we have identified the key terms that appear on our site that we feel require more explanation and definitions. The words that are defined will appear with black text on a yellow background. To see the definitions for these words, simply click the word and a pop-up box with the definition will appear.

We hope that these definitions assist you in gaining additional knowledge on pain, its treatment, and management. If there are any additional words you would like defined, please write to us at: office@canadianpaincoalition.ca.

 

A

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Acetaminophen

Activity pacing

Acupuncture

Acute (pain)

Alternative medicines

Anaestetic

Analgesia

Antibiotics

Anticonvulsants

Antidepressants

Antiinflammatory medications

Antiviral medicines

Aquatherapy

Aura

B

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Bone density

C

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Cannabinoids

Central neuropathic pain

Chicken pox (varicella zoster)

Chronic (pain)

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Complementary medicines

Computed Tomography (CT scans)

D

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Diabetes

Dissemination

Dysfunction

F

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Fatigue

Functional restoration

G

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Genetic disorder

Guided imagery

H

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Headache medications

History

Hyperactivity

I

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Identification

Injection

Interdisciplinary

L

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Local

Localized (pain)

M

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Mechanisms

Meditation

Monofilament testing

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Muscle relaxants

N

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Nerve conduction studies (NCS) or electromyography (EMG)

Neuropathic pain

Neuropathy

Nociceptive pain

Non-drug therapies

Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

O

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Occupational therapist

Opioids

P

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Pain

Peripheral neuropathic pain (or peripheral neuropathy)

Physical exam

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapy

Psychologists

Q

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Quantitative sensory testing (QST)

R

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Referred (pain)

Relaxation (techniques)

S

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Self-management techniques

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Signs

Strengthening and motor stability

Symptoms

Systemic

T

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Topical

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Treatment

Tricyclic antidepressants

Triggers

U

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Urologist

V

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Vital signs

Vulvodynia

Y

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Yoga