Pain Assessment Terminology

A common vocabulary of terms related to pain is important to ensure that we minimize miscommunications because of poorly defined terms. Clearly defined terms also help us be more precise and accurate in describing pain-related issues. The following document provides a glossary of often used pain terms and their definitions. Many of the terms are related to recommended Pain Assessment Tools and will assist clinicians in optimizing the usefulness of these scales.

Pain-Related Terminology and Clinical Application - Table outlining pain terminology, definitions, and clinical applications.

Types of Pain, Examples, and Management - Table outlining types of pain & examples, typical descriptions, and non-pharmacological treatments and effective drug classes.

Pain Assessment Principles

Core Principles of Pain Assessment - Although assessment approaches vary, all pain assessment is guided by the same underlying principles.