Allodynia - pain is produced by all stimuli to the skin that do not normally
induce pain (such as touch, pressure and warmth).
Atrophy - a wasting of a normal developed tissue, ligament, muscle etc. often
from lack of use.
Autonomic nervous system - the part of the nervous system responsible for the
control of bodily functions that are not consciously directed, including heart
rate, intestinal movements, sweating, etc.
Bone deossification - demineralization of bone.
Causalgia - severe burning type pain following injury to a major nerve.
Cyanotic - blue color due to decreased oxygen in blood or decreased blood flow.
Dystonia - a state of abnormal muscle tone.
Dystrophy - progressive changes that may result from defective nutrition of tissue.
Edema - excessive fluid and swelling.
Hyperalgesia - increased sensitivity and lowered threshold to pain stimuli
Hyperasthesia – over-sensitivity to touch and light pressure.
Hyperhydrosis - excessive sweating.
Intractable - resistant to treatment.
Lancinating pain - sharp strikes ofpain in the affected region that seem to come
from nowhere.
Ischemia - pertaining to an inadequate blood supply.
Periphery - the part of the body away from the centerm
Reflex - a reaction, an involuntary movement or response to a stimulus applied
to the periphery and transmitted to the nerve centers in the brain or spinal
cord. Spinal Cord Stimulator- A receiver with electrodes placed on the spinal
cord. It is used for intractable pain, by sending different electrical impulses
through the spinal cord.
Stimulus - anything that arouses action in the muscles, nerves or other excitable
tissue.
Subcutaneous - beneath the skin.
Sudomotor – increased or decreased sweating
Sympathetic nervous system - one of two divisions of the autonomic system
Thermography - a study to measure heat produced by different parts of the body.
Trophic - resulting from interruption of nerve supply.
Type A peronsality- Behavioral style of being hurried, stressed, a sense of time
urgency, imptatience and hostility, associated with teeth grinding, and later
in life cardiac problems associated with the behavior.
Type B personality. A behavioral style of coping with stress, exemplified by
a patient, easygoing, and adaptable behavioral style.
Vaso-vasomotor changes may produce a sensation of coolness or warmth. Vasospasm
- a spasm of the muscles coating the blood vessels. Vaso dillation-the opening
of blood vessels. Vasoconstriction, the narrowing of blood vessels
Names of this syndrome are many:
The current preferred medical term is CRPS, for Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome,
but it's more commonly known as RSD. Here are the other's it goes by:
Causalgia (Minor or Major)
Sudeck’s Atrophy
Post Traumatic Dystrophy (Minor or Major)
Shoulder Hand Syndrome
Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy
Spinal Cord Stimulator- often a last resort, or near last resort for many doctors.Spinal
cord stimulation (SCS) uses low intensity, electrical impulses to trigger selected
nerve fibers along the spinal cord. SCS replaces the area of intense pain with
a more pleasant tingling sensation called paresthesia.