Lexicon
Sickle-cell Anemia
Inherited blood disease characterized by a modification in the shape and rigidity of red blood cells which prevents blood circulation from reaching different parts of the body
Anticonvulsant
Medication used to reduce the muscular rigidity characteristic of some neurological diseases.
Antispastic
Medication used to prevent, reduce or stop convulsive seizures characteristic of epilepsy.
Co-analgesic
Very efficient in treating certain types of pain, however this medication has no pharmacological analgesic properties.
Phantom Pain
Painful sensation felt after a limb has been amputated.
Neuropathic Pain
Pain caused by a lesion or injury to the nervous system that may be felt after a non-painful stimulation or one that usually results in very little pain, or that may be spontaneous, such as when there is no stimulation whatsoever.
Endorphin
Substance that occurs naturally in the brain helping to inhibit pain messages travelling to the brain, similar to morphine and possibly just as strong.
Enkephalin
Substance that occurs naturally in the brain helping to inhibit pain messages travelling to the brain, similar to morphine and possibly just as strong.
Fibromyalgia
Condition characterized by chronic widespread pain in musculoskeletal areas that is associated with fatigue, sleep issues and in some cases, depression.
Low Back Pain (Lumbago)
Pain that is felt in the lower back area (located immediately above the buttocks).
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Diseases that affect the digestive tract (from the mouth to the anus), causing intestines to become inflamed and abscesses to form that can easily bleed. The term refers to two types of diseases: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Neurostimulation
Neurostimulation uses a small implant that is placed beneath the skin through an incision to send controlled, gentle electrical impulses to a specific area – these are felt as a pleasant tingling sensation. These electrical impulses are delivered by an electrode (special medical wire) that is also implanted after the incision. Electrical impulses keep pain signals from reaching the brain, which provides pain relief. Since neurostimulation operates in the area where pain signals travel, electrical impulses may be directed to cover the exact zone where pain is being felt. Neurostimulation does not use any kind of medication, so there are very few side effects unlike those often associated with other types of treatment.
Neurotransmitter
Substance released by nerve endings that enable messages to be transmitted from one cell to another to produce a biological effect.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Acute pain felt along the trigeminal nerve or on one side of the face: jaw, cheek, temple near the ear and around the eye.
Prevalence
Number of cases of a disease within a given population.
Prognosis
Assessment of a disease’s evolution and result.
Multiple Sclerosis
A disease of the nervous system that attacks the sheath (myelin) that protects and covers nerve fibres within the brain and the spinal cord, which then causes disruption or blocks the transmission of messages to the nerve endings.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Unexpected complication that can occur after any kind of trauma to any part of the body, it is characterized by a deeply-felt yet diffuse pain triggered at the slightest stimulation (heat, cold, emotions, movements), rigidity and skin alterations (swelling, colour, temperature).
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial pain or myofascial syndrome refer to a painful musculoskeletal area that is felt upon palpation. These areas, referred as ‘trigger points’ are usually within a single zone on the body (the shoulder for example) and may be associated with muscle spasms.
Shingles
Shingles is an infectious disease caused when the herpes zoster virus (Chicken pox) is reac-tivated. It is characterized by a rash the covers a part of the skin as well as acute pain.