Acupuncture- A technique which fine needles are inserted at specific points to reduce pain or induce anesthesia 

Acute Pain- Pain that has a known cause and occurs for a limited time 

Addiction- A term referring to compulsive drug use, psychological dependence and continuing use despite harm.  

Allodynia- When pain is caused by something that does not normaly cause pain (example clothes touching skin)

Anesthetic- A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness 

Analgesic Medications- Medications used to prevent or treat pain

Antidepressant- Medications used to treat depression.  These medicines can sometimes help with neuropathic pain

Behavioral Techniques- A coping strategy in which patients are taught to monitor and evaluate their own behavior and to modify their reactions

BOTOX- A highly purified preparation of botulinum toxin A. Botox is for injection in very small amounts into specific muscles. It acts by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles and so paralyzing the muscles 

Breakthrough Pain- Intermittent exacerbation of pain that can occur spontaneously or in relation to specific activity 

Causalgia (Complex Regional Pain SyndromeII)- Pain, usually burning, that is associated with autonomic changes--change in color of skin, temperature, sweating and swelling. Causalgia can occur after nerve injury.

Central Nervous System- The brain and the spinal cord

Chronic Pain- Pain that occurs for more than one month after healing of an injury, that occurs repeatedly over months or is due to a lesion that is not expected to heal 

Complementary Medicine- Approaches to medical treatment that are outside of mainstream medical training. Complementary medicine treatments used for pain include: acupuncture, meditation ect.

Computed Tomography (CT/CAT) Scanning- A painless technique used to produce a picture of a cross-section, or "slice" of a part of the body

Constipation- Difficulty having a bowel movement

Disc- Shortened terminology for an intervertebral disc, a disk shaped piece of specialized tissue that separates the bones of the spinal colume 

Epidural Injection- An injection into the spinal column, but outside the spinal cord 

Fatigue- A feeling of becoming tired easily, being unable to complete usual activity, feeling weak, and difficulty concentrating

Fibromyalgia- A pain disorder in which a person feels widespread pain and stiffness in the muscles, fatigue, and other symptoms

Fluoroscopy- An X-ray procedure that makes it possible to see bones and internal organs in motion 

Generic- Official (compendial) names by which medicines are known 

Headache- A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the head or in the back of the upper neck

Herniated Disc- Rupturing of the tissue that separates the vertebral bones of the spinal column

Hyperalgesia- An exaggerated response to something that causes pain, with continued pain after the cause of the pain is no longer present

Hyperpathia- A painful syndrome characterized by increased reaction to a stimulus, especially a repetitve stimulus 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)- A painless technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves (without radiation) to create clear cross sectional pictures of the body

Movement Related Pain- A type of breakthrough pain that is related to specific activity, such as eating, defecation, socializing, or walking 

Myofascial Pain- Muscle pain and tenderness

Nerve Blocks- Injections of anesthetic substances into nerves in order to reduce pain

Neuropathic Pain- Pain that arises from a damaged nerve

Neuropathy- Any and all disease or malfunction of the nerves 

NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)- Asprin like drug that reduces pain and inflammation arising from injured tissue 

Opioid- A type of medication related to opium. Opioids are strong analgesics which include morphine, codeine, and a large number of synthetic drugs like methadone and fentanyl

Pain- An unpleasent feeling that may not be related to an injury, illness, or bodily trauma.

Piriformis Syndrome- Irritation of the sciatic nerve caused by compression of the nerve within the buttock by the piriformis muscle 

Peripheral Nervous System- The nerves throughout the body that send messages to the central nervous system

Peripheral Neuropathy- Pain caused by an injury or other problem with the peripheral nervous system

Phantom Pain- Pain that develops after an amputation

Physical Therapy- A treatment for pain in muscles, nerves, joints, and bones with exercise, electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, and the use of massage, heat, cold, and electrical devices 

Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)- Painful condition following shingles or herpes zoster

Prescription- A doctor's order 

Psychological Approaches- Techniques used to help patients cope with over their pain and deal with emotional factors that can increase pain (example family counseling)

Radiculopathy- Any disease of the spinal nerve roots and spinal nerves 

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I)- Pain, usually burining, that is associated with autonomic changes--change in color of skin, temperature, sweating and swelling. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is generally caused by injury to bone, joint, or soft tissues

Rehabilitation- Treatment for an injury, illness, or pain with the goal of restoring function

Skin Patch- A bandage like patch that releases medicine through the skin and then into the bloodstream. The medicine enters the blood slowly and steadily 

Sciatic Nerve- The largest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve begins from nerve roots in the lumbar part of the spinal cord and extends through the buttock area to send nerve endings down to the legs and feet

Side Effect- Problems caused by a medicine or procedure, such as constipation or drowsiness 

Spasm- A brief, automatic jerking movement, a cramp

Spine- The column of bone known as the vertebral column which surrounds and protects the spinal cord

Steroid- A general class of chemical substance that are structurally realted to one another and share the same chemical skeleton 

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)- A method of producing electroanalgesia through electrodes applied to the skin 

Tolerance- Occurs when the body gets used to the medicine so that either more medicine is needed to control pain or different medicine is needed  

Trigeminal Neuralgia- A disorder of the trigeminal nerve that causes brief attacks of severe pain in the lips, gums, or chin on the one side of the face

Treatment Withdrawal- A syndrome that might occur when a medication that has been used regularly to treat pain is no longer used or the dose in decreased