PAIN-DESCRIPTORS

SUMMARY

1. Radiculopathy: pathologic process affecting the spinal nerve roots.

2. Hyperesthesia: increased sensitivity to a stimulus.
3. Hyperalgesia: increased pain (disproportionate to the stimulus) elicited by a painful stimulus.
4. Hyperpathia: abnormally painful reaction to a stimulus, often seen with a repetitive stimulus or increased threshold.

5. Dysesthesia: unpleasant sensation that is either evoked or spontaneous in nature.
6. Paresthesia: abnormal sensation that is either evoked or spontaneous in nature.

7. Allodynia: pain elicited from a non-painful stimulus.

8. Neuralgia: pain in a distribution of a nerve or nerves.
9. Neuropathic pain: pain arising from a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system.

10. Nociceptive pain: pain arising from non-neural tissue injury, conveyed via afferent nociceptive fibers to the CNS.
11. Visceral pain: nociceptive pain that is carried along sympathetic fibers.

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.