Abnormal bleeding         Bleeding from the vagina that is different than your regular monthly periods. For example, monthly periods that are much heavier or longer than normal, bleeding between periods and irregular periods. It is also called “dysfunctional uterine bleeding”

Abortive Agents         Medications used to reverse, stop or reduce headaches once they start

Acromegaly         Excess growth hormone

Acute         Sudden or rapid onset; short-term; occurring at the beginning

Acute inflammation         Inflammation that occurs right after injury or damage to the tissue

Acute pain         Sharp or intense pain

Acute rhinosinusitis (Acute RS)         New irritation and swelling inside the nose and/or sinuses. Acute RS can include a new infection or inflammation in the nose and/or sinuses; It can also include new inflammation and/or infection in a person with chronic rhinosinusitis

Adhesions         Scar tissue that grows in the joints, causing pain and limited movement

Allodynia         Over-sensitive; for example, a light touch or cool breeze may cause pain for a person with allodynia

Analgesics         Also referred to as pain-relievers or "pain-killers," some types of these medications can be purchased off the grocery or drugstore shelf, while other — stronger — analgesics require prescriptions

Anemia         Condition characterized by too few red blood cells

Aneurysm         An enlarged area of an artery caused by weakness or disease

Ankylosing spondylitis         Chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects spinal and hip joints

Anorexia         Not hungry, loss of appetite

Anti-convulsants         Medicine that is given for seizure (epileptic) disorders but has also been found to help treat some types of pain and headaches

Anti-depressants         Medicine that is given for depression and related mood disorders but has also been found to help treat some types of pain and headaches

Anti-histamines         Medication that stops or reverses the effects of histamines in your body (e.g., watery, itchy eyes, runny nose, stuffiness) when you have a cold or allergy

Anti-inflammatory medications         Medication that decreases redness, irritation and swelling

Anti-oxidant         Compound that helps prevent damage to healthy cells in the body

Anus         Opening in the rectum where bowel movements come out of the body

Artery         Blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body tissues

Arthritis         Inflammation of a joint

Asthenia         Weakness; loss of strength

Aura         Specific neurological symptoms that accompany certain types of migraine headaches. The most common aura symptoms are visual, such as bright zigzag lines, sparkling moving figures, blind spots and distorted objects

Autogenic training         Changing the way your entire body responds to stress

Autoimmune disorder         A disorder where the body fights against itself

Autonomic         Automatic function

Autonomic nervous system         The part of the nervous systems that passes information from your brain stem and spinal cord to your body organs. It controls the functions of your body that are automatic--functions in your body that you don’t think about because they happen naturally. For example, the ANS controls your breathing, heart beat, sweating, blood pressure, swallowing, eye blinking and more

Beta blockers         Medicine that is commonly used to treat heart arrhythmias and high blood pressure but has also been found to help treat some types of headaches

Bite         The way your upper teeth fit together and line up with your lower teeth

Blood vessels         Arteries and veins

Botox         Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, is a medication that is used to relax or disable small parts of a muscle for up to several months

(TMD) Botox         Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, is a medication that is used to disable small parts of a muscle for up to several months. It may also be used to treat severe tooth clenching and grinding (called bruxism) if other more conservative treatments fail. The use of Botox is not as well researched as other medications for treating myofascial trigger points

Brachial plexus         Network of nerves that control muscles and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand

Bruxism         Tooth clenching and grinding

Cachexia         Weight loss, loss of appetite and general wasting away due to chronic illness

Cartilage         Tough connective tissue that is found on the ends of joints; helps the bones within the joint to move smoothly against each other

Central nervous system (CNS)         The brain and spinal cord

Central sensitivity syndromes (CSS)         Medical problems that happen due to a problem with pain processing in the central nervous system (CNS)

Cerebral angiography         A test during that involves injecting dye into the blood vessels of the brain and taking x-rays to check their condition

Cervical         Relating to the neck

Cervical disc         Spongy cushion between the vertebrae

Chronic         Long-term

Chronic CH         People with chronic CH have one of the following:

Cluster periods that last more than 1 year with no remission period
Cluster periods that are separated by remission periods of less than 1 month
(Post-traumatic headache) Chronic headaches         New headaches that continue for more than 3 months; Or, a headache disorder that you had before the injury that was triggered or made worse by the injury

Chronic headaches/Chronic TTH         Daily or almost-daily headaches that occur on 15 or more days per month for at least 3 months

Chronic low back pain         Low back pain that lasts for at least 3 months

Chronic prostatitis         Long-term inflammation of the prostate

Coagulated         Clotted

Cognitive restructuring         Helps a person change their thoughts about stress

Complementary techniques (complementary therapies)         Therapies such as biofeedback, physical therapy, acupuncture, etc. for controlling pain

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)         A chronic pain disorder, usually arising from injury, in which pain is worse than expected for the injury and continues long after the injury should have healed

Complications of epidural steroid injection         Headache, water retention or sweating. More severe, but rare complications include systemic overdose of steroid and body damage due to this overdose, nerve damage, spinal cord damage, weakness of the legs or arms due to nerve or spinal cord damage, or paralysis due to injury of the spinal cord

Complications of ONS         Complications include lead migration, battery running out, tingling, need to adjust stimulator; infection, allergy

Compounding pharmacy         A pharmacy that can make special mixtures of drugs that are prescribed by a physician to meet unique individual patient needs

Compressed (compress, compression)         Pinched or squeezed

(TMD) Compression         Undue pressure often caused by tooth or jaw grinding and clenching
Conservative therapies (conservative treatments)         Non-surgical treatments; treatments that do not involve surgery

Congenital         Present at birth; something you were born with

Constrict         Become narrower or smaller

(TMD) Conservative therapies         Therapies that do not involve surgery or permanent changes to the mouth or jaw. Examples include behavior modification, physical therapy, medication, jaw exercises and orthotics (splints) that prevent teeth/jaw clenching and grinding

Constricted pupil         The pupil, or middle black portion of the eye, becomes very small

Continuous         Continues; does not go away

Core stability (core strength)         Strength of the lower back and trunk (abdominal) muscles—the muscles in the “core” or center of your body. Building strong trunk and back muscles provides protection and support, helps you with movement and keeps your spine aligned. Strong core muscles can help decrease your chances of back injury and pain

Cranial Nerves         Cranial nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system. They are the nerves of the head, face, mouth and neck. There are 12 sets or “pairs” of cranial nerves. For example, the trigeminal nerve (also called the 5th cranial nerve) is actually a pair of nerves—one is on the left side of the face; one is on the right

Cryotherapy (cryosurgery)         Procedure that freezes the pain-causing nerve

CT scan         Also called “computerized axial tomography.” This test uses special x-rays to take pictures from many different angles. A computer then combines the pictures to show a “cross-section” of the body area being examined
(Sinus headache) CT scan         A test that shows the soft tissue of the nose, paranasal sinuses and brain

Cushing’s syndrome         A disorder caused by having to too much cortisol (a steroid) in your body. Symptoms include puffy face, bruising, thinner skin, weakness and diabetes

Deconditioning         Feeling “out of shape” and having less endurance and energy

Degeneration         Wearing out or breaking down; eroding

Dehydration         A condition in which you don’t have enough body fluid. Symptoms include dry mouth, lightheadedness, muscle cramps and little or no urine and sweat

Demineralization         Loss of bone minerals such as calcium; causes the bones to become soft, brittle and easier to break

Depression         A medical condition that can make people feel sad, helpless and hopeless

Diagnostic injections         Nerve and muscle injections that are done to learn if certain nerves or muscles are causing your pain

Disc         Soft, gel-like pad that lies between each spinal bone (vertebra)

(TMD) Disc displacement         The disc is a small pad that lies between the condyle and fossa. It acts like a shock absorber and keeps the joint stable as it moves. Disc displacement occurs when the disc becomes stuck out of its normal position within the TMJ, causing popping, limited jaw movement and/or pain

Discogenic pain         pain arising from the discs themselves. Discogenic pain increases with sitting and walking and also increases with forward bending. Discogenic pain usually is only felt in the neck or back

(TMD) Dislocation         The jaw disc or bones are out of their normal place and do not sit correctly in the joint. When this occurs, the jaw becomes stuck in the open position

Distraction         Helps a person to minimize their focus on stress

Dorsal root ganglia         Rounded bundle of nerves, located just before the nerve root leaves the spinal canal

Duloxetine (Cymbalta)         Medication that is FDA-approved to treat both depression disorders and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPNP)

Ejaculation         When semen comes out of the penis

Electro-acupuncture         Technique that sends small amounts of electric current into the body through acupuncture needles

Electrogalvanic stimulation (EGS)         Electrostimulation technique that treats with a higher amount of electric current than TENS. It may help relieve pain, muscle spasms and trigger point tenderness around the TMJ

Encephalitis         Irritation and swelling of the brain, usually caused by a virus or other germ

Endometriosis         A disease in which endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus, resulting in symptoms such as painful monthly periods, pain during intercourse and chronic pelvic pain

Epidural space         The space between the spinal canal and the thecal sac

Episodic/Episodic headaches         Headaches that occur on less than 1 to 14 days per month for least 3 months

Episodic chronic headache (CH)         People with episodic CH have cluster periods that last from 1 week to 1 year. Each cluster period is separated by a headache-free (remission) period of 1 month or longer

Equilibration         Thin layers of selected teeth are ground down so your top and bottom rows of teeth can fit together with equal pressure

Ergonomics         This includes proper sitting at your desk and in front of a computer; correct positioning of your arms, hands and feet and using adaptive measures such as special chairs, keyboard trays and adjusting your keyboard height

External genitals         The penis and scrotum in men; includes the mons pubis, labia and clitoris in women

Extracted (extraction)         Removed or pulled from the mouth

Facet joints         Joints located in the back of the spine that allow twisting and bending. They stabilize and protect the spine by limiting excess motion. Each cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebra contains two facet joints

Facet joint injections         An injection (shot) or “nerve block” of local anesthetic that is put into the joint or near the irritated nerves of the facet joint

Facet joint syndrome         Pain that is often caused by arthritis of the joints that hold the spine in alignment

Fatigue         Tiredness; becoming tired

Flexibility         Ability to bend, twist and move

Foramina (foramen)         Holes in the side of the vertebrae from which the nerve roots exit; “foramen” refers to one individual hole; “formina”, to two holes

Fuses (fusion)         Permanently joins

Gait training         Correct walking techniques

Gamma knife         Procedure that destroys nerve fibers by focusing strong beams of radiation on a specific area of the nerve

Gasserion ganglion (trigeminal ganglion)         A mass of nerve tissue located at the base of the skull bone where the three branches of the trigeminal nerve join together

Gout         Condition that causes uric acid crystals to build up in joints and other tissues

Gradually         Slowly

Headache episode         Each new headache that starts

Hemochromatosis         Excess iron levels

Herniated disc         A disc that bulges out of its regular disc space, causing nerve compression and irritation

History         Information your health care provider gathers by asking questions about your medical condition, medical conditions that your family members have and your pain and other symptoms
Hot and cold water immersion         Also called a "contrast bath," this therapy helps increase blood flow to your painful body part. Your arm, hand, leg or foot is placed in warm water for a certain period of time, and then it is put in cold water

Hyperalgesia         Pain that feels more extreme than it normally should. For example, a pin prick to the skin may feel like a knife stab to a person with hyperalgesia

Idiopathic         No known cause

Incisions - Surgical openings made in the skin with a scalpel

Infertility         Not able to get pregnant

Inflammation         Redness, irritation and swelling

Intercourse         Sex

Interferential electrotherapy - A type of electrotherapy that sends bursts or pulses of electrical current instead of a steady flow

Intermittent         Comes and goes

Intractable         Difficult to treat

Intravesical therapy         Inside the bladder therapy

Invasive treatment         Surgical treatments

(TMD) Invasive treatment         Aggressive, irreversible treatments such as jaw surgery and extensive dental or orthodontic treatment. These should be avoided as much as possible

(TMD) Irreversible therapies         Treatments such as jaw surgery, braces, equilibration, crowns and other extensive dental or orthodontic treatments. After these therapies, your jaw or mouth (“bite”) cannot be changed back to the way it was before the therapy was done without more irreversible therapies

Irritable bowel         Symptoms include problems swallowing or digesting food; a bloated, full feeling in your stomach; diarrhea or constipation

Irritable bladder         Symptoms are similar to having a urinary tract infection. You may feel like you need to go to the bathroom more often than usual. Urinating may sting or burn. Also, a woman’s monthly periods may be more painful

Jin Shin Jyutsu         A process to balance the body's energies to bring optimal health and well-being

Joint         Place where 2 bones meet

Lateral         Side-to-side

Ligament         Tissue that connects one bone to another bone

Limb         An arm or leg; also referred to as an “extremity”

Local anesthesia         Medication that causes temporary numbness and loss of feeling

Lubricate         Help joint surfaces move in a smoother, non-irritating way

Lumbar         Lower back region

Medical history         Information your healthcare provider gathers by asking questions about your overall health, regular medications and family health. He or she will also ask questions such as when your pain and symptoms began, how long they last and where it hurts

Medical professionals         Physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and behavioral specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers

Medication over-use         When a person regularly takes pain-relievers too often or in a higher than recommended dose

Menstruation         A woman’s menstrual period, or vaginal bleeding that typically occurs each month

Minimally-invasive         Procedures that are less invasive than major (open) surgery. These procedures use smaller incisions (cuts) and instruments such as needles, tiny knives, lasers and microscopes

Monochromatic infrared light therapy         Light therapy may help improve blood flow, decrease pain and increase sensation, or feeling, in the area that is it applied. Light therapy equipment may consist of a panel of lights, a hand-held device or special skin pads that have small infrared lights built into them. When the light therapy unit is turned on, light travels deep into your body tissues and dilates (makes wider) the blood vessels. As blood flow to the area increases, you may feel tingling and pulsing. Light therapy may be given in the therapy room or at home. If you are doing home treatments, always follow the treatment plan given to you by your health care provider

MRI         Also called “Magnetic resonance imaging.” This test uses magnetic waves to help your health care provider see the normal and abnormal soft tissues in your body

Multi-disciplinary pain rehabilitation program         A team of health care providers who specialize in pain management

Multi-modality and interdisciplinary         Composed of health care providers who specialize a wide variety of medical and pain-related expertise; a group who offers many different forms of therapy

Multiple sclerosis (MS)         A disease that causes widespread damage to myelin

Muscle contracture         Muscles are shrunken and tight, usually due to injury that damages the muscle fibers in a way that converts them to scar tissue

Muscle micro trauma         Small tears in the muscle

Muscular bracing         A reaction to pain in which a person maintains a rigid posture in an attempt to avoid additional pain

Nausea         Feel sick to your stomach

Nasal endoscope         A small, flexible tube that is inserted into your nasal cavity (nose) and sinuses. It is hollow like a straw so that your provider can do procedures by passing tiny instruments such as cameras and knives through the tube.

Nasal endoscopy         During this procedure, a tiny camera is inserted into your nose to allow your provider to see the soft tissue inside your nasal cavity and sinuses. Topical anesthesia (numbing medicine) may be sprayed or rubbed inside your nose to make this procedure more comfortable. Your provider may also take a small amount of mucus and pus to send to the lab for tests. He or she may apply medicine that will help decrease tissue swelling and help your nose and sinuses to drain.

Nerve block         Nerve blocks are injections (shots) of an anesthetic or other type of medicine. A nerve block is given near a nerve that the surgeon believes is causing your pain. It may help relieve pain by numbing the nerve and blocking abnormal pain messages from going to the brain

Neuroleptics - Medicine that is given for psychological disorders but has also been found to help treat some types of headaches

Nerve roots         Smaller nerves that branch directly off the spinal cord on either side of the vertebrae

Neurological exam         Simple tests that show how well your nerves pass messages to the brain. During the exam, your provider will check muscle strength and reflexes and how well you can feel things

Neurological tests         Tests that show how well your nerves send information to other nerves, the muscles and the brain

Neuromodulation         Reprogramming the messages involved in relaying the pain signals

Neuropathic pain         Pain that occurs when a nerve is injured or damaged. Symptoms include numbness and tingling; also sharp, burning, shooting or aching pain in the area of the injured nerve

Neurotransmitters         Nerve cell chemicals that send messages from one nerve to another

Nociceptive pain         Pain caused by injury to tissue such as muscle, bones, ligaments and body organs

Non-opioid pain relievers (or “analgesics”)         Pain-relievers that can be bought other-the-counter or by prescription at your local grocery store or pharmacy. They include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 specific inhibitors

NSAIDs         Also called “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.” NSAIDs are used to decrease pain and inflammation

(NSAIDs) side effects         The most common side effects of NSAIDs are stomach upset, bleeding disorder, high blood pressure and swelling. Used long-term or with other medications, some NSAIDs (including COX-2 inhibitors) can also cause liver problems and increased risk of heart attack

Obstruction         Blockage

Off-label         Every drug must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it can be sold to patients. To be approved, every drug must be tested in clinical trials for treatment of specific medical conditions. For example, amitriptyline (Elavil) was approved by the FDA to treat depression. Once a drug is approved for the market, doctors may prescribe it to treat other conditions. If the drug helps a medical condition for which it was not originally tested, its use is called “off-label” use. For example, an off-label use for amitriptyline is treatment of fibromyalgia

Opioids         The strongest type of pain-reliever. Opioids are also called “narcotics.” Examples include morphine, methadone and tramadol

Oral contraceptives         Birth control pills

(TMD) Orthotics         Also called “oral orthopedic appliances,” these include occlusal splints, night guards and bruxism appliances

Osteoporosis         Condition that causes bone to become thin and fragile

Osteoarthritis         Also called “degenerative joint disease.” This disorder is usually caused by wear and tear on the joints as a person ages, including wearing away of cartilage, overgrowth of bones in the joint and bone spurs. These changes cause irritation, inflammation and pain in the joints

Ostia         Narrow opening between the facial sinuses and the nose. Ostia are the narrow openings between the sinuses and the nasal passage (inside of the nose). When swelling of the soft tissue occurs, the ostia can swell shut and prevent mucus from draining out of the sinus

OTC or OTC medicine         OTC or “over-the-counter” refers to medicines that you can buy at a grocery store or pharmacy without a prescription. Typical OTC pain relievers include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.)

Over-stretching         This can occur during long or forceful dental procedures, intubation and surgery of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach

Paralysis         Loss of voluntary movement

Pain generator         The source of your pain

Pain history         Information your health care provider gathers by asking you about your medical condition and pain. He or she will ask questions that include: what caused your pain, when did your symptoms begin and how long does your pain last. You can use this time to show the provider information you have written down about your pain, such as a pain journal

Pain-relievers         These include ergotamine, triptans, opioids (narcotics) and analgesics

Paranasal sinuses         Hollow, air-filled pockets inside the facial bones that surround your nose. There are four pair of paranasal sinuses: maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid

Parasympathetic nervous system         The opposite of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). It brings your body back to its normal function. For example, it slows the heart so that it will beat at its regular rate, stops you from sweating and slows your breathing

Percutaneous injection         Procedure in which a needle is inserted through the skin and into the nerve

Perineum         The skin area surrounding the vaginal opening, urethra and anus in women; the area from the scrotum to the anus in men.

Peripheral         Lying outside of the center or core of the body

Peripheral nerve         A nerve outside of the brain and spinal cord; includes the nerves that go to the arms, legs, trunk (body organs), head, face, mouth and neck

Peripheral nerve stimulation         A treatment for chronic peripheral nerve pain, usually considered when less invasive treatments are ineffective. During surgery, a small wire is placed near the spinal cord or further away in an arm or leg. The wire is connected to a device that sends tiny, safe amounts of electrical current through the wire to the nerves that are causing your pain. PNS may help stop the damaged nerves from sending pain messages to your brain. Instead of feeling pain, you may feel tingling instead

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)         All the nerves in the body except the brain and spinal cord; includes the nerves that go to the arms, legs, trunk (body organs), head, face, mouth and neck

Peripheral neuropathy         Nerve-related (“neuropathic”) pain, numbness and weakness that occurs due to nerve injury or damage

Permanent         Cannot be changed back to the way it was; cannot be reversed

Persistent         Continues; will not go away

Photophobia         Sensitivity to light that can accompany headaches, particularly migraine and tension headaches

Physiological         Part of the body; typically refers to the physical processes that control bodily functions, which, when disturbed or disrupted, may lead to medical conditions and disorders

Postdrome         Symptoms that can occur after a severe migraine attack, such as feeling tired or "washed out," irritable and listless

Post-traumatic         Occurring after an accident or injury

Primary headache disorder         A condition in which the headache represents the primary symptom of a physiological, or bodily, disorder. The more common primary headache types are migraine, tension-type and cluster headaches

Pregabalin (Lyrica)         Medication that is FDA-approved to treat both seizure disorders and diabetic nerve pain

Premonitory or “Prodrome” period         In migraine headaches, this refers to events, such as mood changes, stiff neck, fatigue, increased sensitivity to light, sound and smells, etc., that can occur hours to days before the actual headache

Presacral neurectomy         Nerves between the lower spine and tailbone are destroyed by laser

Preventive medications         Medicine that is prescribed when headaches occur more than twice a week and/or are extremely painful

Protrusive         Backward-to-forward

Psychological         Mental and emotional

Puberty         The time that adult growth and sexual maturity occurs

Pubic bone         The front, middle part of the pelvis

Radicular pain         Pain that occurs when bulging discs compress the nerve roots. Pain starts in the back and radiates outward toward the neck and into the arm or toward the back, buttock and into the leg and foot. It increases with walking or bending forward or when the arm or leg is extended

Radiculopathy         Pain and/or decreased function of a nerve root that begins in your spine and moves down your arm or leg due to damage or compression by soft or bony tissue.

Radiofrequency lesioning (RFL)         Procedure that destroys nerve fibers with a small, safe amount of electric current

Range of motion         The amount a joint can move

(TMD) Range of motion         Ability to open your mouth wide and move it side-to-side and back and forth

Reactive Headache         A headache that is triggered by a "reaction" to something in a person's environment or lifestyle

Rebound Headache         Also known as "medication over-use" headache; it is caused by excessive use of certain medications, including many of the pain-relievers and other agents used to treat chronic headaches

Recurrence         Times when the symptoms come back again

Recurs (Recurrent)         Comes back again

Regenerate         Regrow; grow back again

Rehabilitation         Exercises and therapies that are done to help you return to your regular daily activities and to help decrease pain.

Reiki         A natural healing process using the hands to tap a universal life energy

Remission         Times when you have no symptoms; for example, this could be a “quiet period” or “headache-free” period

Reversibility         The ability to move away from neutral and return back to neutral with equal control and without pain

Risk factors         Things that make you more likely to have worse health or ill effects

Rotator cuff         Group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint

Rotator cuff tendonitis         Inflammation of the shoulder joint tendons

Satiety         Your stomach feels filled enough that you are no longer hunger

Second opinion         Schedule an interview with another health care provider who specializes in your medical disorder or pain condition. Ask this provider if he or she agrees with the treatment that the first expert recommended for you

Secondary headache disorder         A headache that arises as a symptom of another disorder. Some of the more common secondary headache types are post-traumatic, reactive, sinus and rebound

Sensation (senses)         Feeling; The way something feels on your skin or inside your body

Side effects of corticosteroids         Long-term use of steroids can decrease your body’s ability to make its own natural cortisone (steroids) and its ability to fight infection. Steroids can cause your body to hold on to fluid (swelling) and weight gain. It can lead to bone loss, osteoporosis and can increase the blood sugar of people with diabetes

Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Blockade         A type of nerve block that involves the injection of a nerve-blocking agent into a cluster of nerves along the skull behind the face

Spondylolisthesis         A condition where a vertebra slips out of place, causing it to be out of line in relation to the other vertebrae

Soft tissue         Also called “mucus membranes”

Spinal canal         Each spinal bone, or “vertebra,” has a hollow space called the spinal canal. The spinal canal provides a place for the spinal cord and nerve roots and protects them from damage

Spinal sprain and strain         Pain that occurs when muscles, tendons or ligaments around the spine are over-stretched or torn.

Spinal stenosis         Pain from bony compression of the nerves of the spine. Narrowing of the spinal canal is often caused by “wear and tear” on the spine that occurs with age or by being born with the condition

Spine         The backbone; also called the spinal column or vertebral column

Stent         Thin, flexible tube

Sterile         Clean

Stress management techniques         These include cognitive behavioral therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)] techniques, and biofeedback

Subclavian         Under the clavicle (collarbone)

Symmetry         Equal in size, shape and form

Sympathetically maintained pain (SMP)         The SNS is like the body’s alarm system. It begins working when you feel things like stress, fear or pain. When these feelings happen, the SNS causes your body to become alert and ready for action. For example, it causes your heart beat and breathing to increase, your mouth to become dry and skin to sweat

Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)         Inflammatory, autoimmune condition that affects many body organs, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs and central nervous system

Tapering         Decreasing the dose

Temporary         Short-term

Tendons         Tissue that attaches muscle to bone

TENS         Also called “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.” A TENS unit is a small device that stimulates nerves with tiny, safe amounts of electrical current. You apply skin electrodes (patches) to your skin. The electrodes are connected to the TENS unit with wires. The electric current goes from the TENS to the wires and through the skin patches. The electric current travels into your nerves and breaks up pain messages

(TMD) Total joint replacement         This surgery is only available for people with advanced cases of TMD who have a large amount of joint damage and extremely limited opening

Trigger point injections         A trigger point is a very painful area of muscle that is tense and knotted. A trigger point injection is a shot that is put directly into the trigger point. The shot may have an anesthetic such as lidocaine and sometimes a corticosteroid in it. It helps to relax the muscle and ease the pain in some patients

Triggered by         May begin as a result of

Triggers         Things that cause pain to begin; for example, headache triggers can cause a headache to start

Urethra         Small tube connected to the bladder. Urine must flow down the urethra to leave the body

Urinary sphincters         Muscles around the urethral openings

Urinary system         The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra

Urinate         Pass urine; go to the bathroom

Uterosacral nerve ablation         Nerves in the ligaments that attach the uterus to the sacrum are destroyed by laser or cauterization

Vascular         Related to blood vessels

Vein         Blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart

Vertebrae         The individual bones of the spine

Vertigo         A spinning sensation

Visual Imagery         The practice of using one's imagination to create mental pictures in a way that can help persons become relaxed and help relieve pain

Wedging         Wedging occurs when the broken vertebra collapse toward the front or side of the spine and cause the spine to tilt forward

(TMD) Whiplash         The jaw joint is damaged from the forces of acceleration and deceleration. This often occurs in a rear end collision, which causes that cause the jaw to be suddenly forced up and back, and then forward against the chest

Whiplash         A neck injury that occurs when your head is suddenly forced forward and then thrown back, such as during a car accident

X-ray         A test that uses radioactive waves to take pictures of your bones and supporting tissue

Abbreviated Health Care Provider Glossary

Allergist        A medical professional who specializes in identifying and treating allergic reactions

Psychiatrist         Medical doctor with special training in treating emotional problems

Psychologist        Non-medical doctor with special training in treating emotional problems

Psychotherapist         Psychiatrist or psychologist

Social worker         Non-medical counselor