Word Search Glossary of Terms used


Allodynia: A pain due to a stimulus which does not normally provoke 
pain, such as touch.

Analgesia: The inability to feel pain or medication used to relieve pain.

Causalgia: Severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral 
nerve

Central: In this sense, relates to the central nervous system comprising 
the brain and spinal cord.

Hyperalgesia: Increased sensitivity to pain

Hypoalgesia: Decreased sensitivity to pain

Hypoesthesia: a reduced capacity for physical sensation, particularly of 
the skin

Neuralgia: an intense burning or stabbing pain associated with damage 
of irritation of a nerve. The sensation often feels as though it is shooting 
along the course of the nerve path.

Neuritis: Inflammation or degenerative damage to a nerve marked by 
pain, sensory disturbances and impaired or loss of reflexes.

Neuropathic: usually refers to neuropathic pain- chronic pain resulting 
from damage to the nervous system.

Neuropathy: usually refers to peripheral neuropathy- nerve damage to 
the peripheral nervous system.

Nociceptor: a sensory receptor for painful stimuli.

Nociception: involves the encoding and processing of harmful/noxious 
stimuli in the nervous system.

Noxious: refers to a substance or process which is harmful, poisonous or 
very unpleasant

Pain: An unpleasant physical/emotional sensation/experience caused by 
noxious stimuli and/or central sensitization in the presence of previous 
injury.

Paraesthesia: An abnormal sensation, typically tingling or pricking, 
sometimes called 'pins and needles'. The sensation is associated with 
pressure or damage to peripheral nerves.

Peripheral: In this sense, relates to the peripheral nervous system 
comprising nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Sensitization: Increased sensitivity to pain

Central sensitization: This occurs when the nociceptive neurones 
in the spinal cord become sensitized as a result of peripheral tissue 
damage or inflammation. Normally nociceptive pain is triggered by 
noxious stimuli leading to a stimulus response mechanism (noxious 
stimulus-nociceptor- pain response). An understanding of central 
sensitization means that for people affected, a pain response can 
occur without direct noxious stimulation. For example: A person 
may have surgery to remove a herniated disc in his/her back to 
relieve the pain caused by a pinched nerve but they may continue 
to feel pain after the procedure has been completed and the nerve 
released.
​
Key reference: Woolf, C. 2011. Central sensitization: implications 
for the diagnosis and treatment of pain, Pain. 152, S2-S15.
About this Resource:
This resource has been developed by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University (BU) and funded by the BU Centre for Excellence in Learning. The contents have been developed and co-created by staff and students from BU. The site was designed by Thomas Galloway & Abraham Weiskorn, a Graphic Design Student from Portsmouth University and a Digital Media Design Student from Bournemouth University. The editors are: Dr Carol Clark Senior Academic - Physiotherapy and Dr Desi Tait Senior Academic - Nursing from Bournemouth University.

The aim of this site is to promote and facilitate inter-professional learning and collaboration in the theory and practice of pain management using a humanising approach to care (Todres et al 2009).