Chapter 10: Pain and its Management

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the lecture on pain and its management.

Pain

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Chronic pain

Pain that persists and does not decrease with the passage of time.

Congenital insensitivity to pain

A disorder in which an individual cannot experience pain, leading to constant injury and early death.

Gate control theory

A theory proposing that a neural 'pain gate' can open and close to modulate pain signals to the brain.

A-delta fibers

Small, myelinated fibers that transmit sharp pain.

C-fibers

Unmyelinated fibers that transmit dull, aching pain.

Biofeedback

A method of achieving control over bodily processes, often used to treat chronic disorders.

Relaxation techniques

Methods that enable patients to cope with stress and anxiety, helping to reduce pain.

Distraction

Focusing attention on an irrelevant stimulus to reduce the perception of pain.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

A therapeutic approach that helps patients reconceptualize problems and monitor their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.