1.
acute pain: intense and of short duration, usually lasting less than six monbths
2.
chronic pain: pain lasting longer than 6 months; it is constant or occurs off and on
3.
endorphin: any one of the neurpeptides composed of many amino acids, elaborated by the pituitary gland and actin on the central peripheal nervous systems to reduce pain
4.
gate control theory: suggests that pain impulses can be regulated or even blocked by gating mechanisms located along the central nervous system
5.
non-rapid eye movement (NREM): one of two highly individualized sleeping states divided into four stages through which a sleeper progresses during a typical sleeping cycle; represents three fourths of a period of typical sleep
6.
noxious: injurious to physical or mental health
7.
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA): a drug delivery system that allows patients to administer analgesics whenever needed
8.
rapid eye movement (REM): one of the two highly individualized sleeping states that follows NREM state. may last a few minutes to a half hour and altenate NREM periods; dreaming occurs during this time
9.
referred pain: pain tht is felt at a site other than the injured or diseased organ or part of the body
10.
synergistic: the action of two or more substances or organs to achieve an effect of which each is individually incapable
11.
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation: (TENS)- a special pain relief system that uses a pocket sized battery operated device that provides a continuous,mild electric current to the skin via electrodes that are attached to a stimulator by flexible wires
12.
visual analog scale: an objective means of assessing pain severity; it consists of a straight line, represent a continuum of intensity,and has zisual descriptors at each end
