Your health - Pain /Inflammation

Section 4: Glossary of Terms

1. Index
2. Section 1: How a HEALTHY Musculoskeletal system works
3. Section 2: Painful Diseases
4. Section 3: Self-evaluation
5. Section 4: Glossary of Terms

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) – A rheumatic disease that affects mostly the sacro-iliac region of the lower back

Anti-inflammatories – A group of drugs that reduce (pain and) inflammation

Articulations – The connection between the ends of two bones or the end of a bone with another structure

Cartilage – Strong, rubbery tissue that protects and cushions the ends of bones

Carpal (carpus) – The eight bones that make up the wrist

Carpal tunnel syndrome – Compression of the nerve passing through a narrow passageway in the wrist

Cervical – Neck section of the spinal column

Cyclo-oxygenase 2 Inhibitors (COX-2 inhibitors) – A class of anti-inflammatory drugs that work specifically on the chemicals that cause pain and inflammation without causing the gut disturbances that may result from some NSAID’s

Disease - Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARD’s) – A class of drugs that reduce the risk of deformities: disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

Fibromyalgia – A painful condition involving muscles and joint tissue

Gout – A build up of uric acid crystals in mainly joints, causing pain

Herpes Zoster – Inflammation of clusters of nerve cells (ganglia), causing a variety of skin conditions

Ligaments – Elastic tissue that connects and stabilises joints

Lumbago – Lower back pain and stiffness

Malaise – A general feeling of fatigue

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – Progressive destruction of the myelin sheaths that encase the nerves

Musculo-skeletal – The term that describes the skeleton, ligaments, cartilages, bone, muscles and other structures

Myositis – Inflammation of the muscle

Neuropathic – Disease of the nerves and nervous system, causing pain

Neuralgia – Paroxysmal (sudden onset and ending) pain along a nerve

Nociceptive – Sensation of pain caused by injury to body tissues

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID’s) – A class of drugs to treat pain/inflammation

Osteo-arthritis (OA) – Painful condition affecting bones and joints

Peripheral NS – The nerves throughout the body, excluding the brain and spinal cord

Postherpetic – After having contracted the herpes zoster virus, resulting in a rash

Radiculopathy – Disease of the nerve roots

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) – Condition affecting the musculo-skeletal system and other body systems that is characterised by inflammation (‘Juvenile’ RA: affecting children)

Sacroiliac – The joint between the pelvis and the sacrum (the lower part of the spine)

Sciatica – A group of symptoms that result from pressure on the sciatic nerve

Spondylosis – OA of the back and neck (spine)

Synovial joint – A joint that is surrounded and protected by a fluid-filled sac, called a synovial capsule

Trigeminal – The collective term for the three branches of Cranial nerve V

Vertebral – The term that describes the spine (vertebra: one spinal bone)

Disclaimer [1]
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[1] The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.