Pain Terminology
Learn how clinicians and practitioners use pain terminology to better understand your unique circumstances.
Taxonomy
The terms used in pain science do not follow a single rigid taxonomy. Terms can overlap and vary in definition from person to person and source to source. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) provides updated definitions, but these definitions and terms evolve over time, and practitioners tend to use the terminology they were trained with.
This guide helps you better understand the somatosensory terms your physician or clinician may use to describe your unique situation. Explore sharpening discernment to learn more about how you can manage your pain.
Positive & Negative
In neuroscience and neurology, the terms “positive” and “negative” can be confusing for most people. This is because positive and negative do not mean good or bad, but instead increased (+) or decreased (-).
- Positive symptoms: Increased or added abnormal activity. Examples include hyperesthesia, allodynia, or spontaneous pain.
- Negative symptoms: Decreased or loss of normal function. Examples include hypoesthesia, hypoalgesia, or reduced sensation.
Somatosensory Abnormality Umbrella
- Hyperesthesia: Heightened sensitivity to touch or other sensory stimuli, where normal sensations feel amplified or unpleasant.
- Dysesthesia: This is an unpleasant or painful abnormal sensation that is often distressing. Examples include burning, crawling, electric shocks, and painful tingling.
- Allodynia: Pain from a stimulus that is normally not painful (e.g., light touch, clothing, or a gentle breeze). It is frequently seen in chronic pain conditions and high-impact disorders like CRPS.
- Hyperalgesia: An exaggerated pain response, where a mildly painful stimulus feels far more intense than it should.
- Hyperpathia: An abnormally painful reaction, often to repetitive stimuli.
- Dysesthesia: This is an unpleasant or painful abnormal sensation that is often distressing. Examples include burning, crawling, electric shocks, and painful tingling.
- Paresthesia: These are abnormal sensations that occur without an obvious external stimulus. They often feel like tingling, pins & needles, buzzing, or a ticking sensation.
Additional Terms
These sensations can be further described by stimulus type, location, and whether they are spontaneous or evoked.
- Stimulus type: The stimulus is the external input, or trigger, that provokes a response (how it is felt ). Common stimulus types include mechanical, thermal, chemical, vibratory, electrical, and movement.
- Location: Where the sensation is experienced.
- Primary: Occurs at the site of an injury.
- Secondary: Occurs in the surrounding area.
- Spontaneous: Discomfort that occurs without any obvious trigger or stimulus.
- Evoked: Discomfort that is triggered by a specific stimulus.
Precision Stimuli
Mechanical Stimuli
Mechanical Stimuli involve physical contact or pressure on the skin or deeper tissues.
- Dynamic: Gentle, slow-moving contact across the skin, such as light brushing with a cotton swab or soft towel.
- Static: Light, steady pressure or touch without movement, examples may include clothing resting against the skin, or a handshake.
- Punctate: Sharp, localized pressure, such as a gentle pinprick or the point of a monofilament.
- Pressure: Sustained pressure applied to the skin or deep tissues, such as kneading, firm squeezing, or weight-bearing pressure.
Thermal Stimuli
Thermal stimuli include temperature changes applied to the skin.
- Cold: Exposure to mild cooling, such as ice packs, cold stones, or cool air.
- Heat: Exposure to mild warming or heat, such as hot stones, heating pads, or warm water.
Chemical Stimuli
Chemical stimuli involve applying chemicals that can trigger or heighten pain sensations.
- Examples include capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, menthol, or other irritants.
Other Stimuli
- Vibratory: Application of vibration, such as from a tuning fork, vibrating massage tools, or certain electric massagers.
- Electrical: Mild electrical currents applied to the skin, like those used in TENS units.
- Movement: Pain triggered by moving a joint or muscle, such as during a stretching session, walking, or everyday activities.
Next Step
If learning these terms is helping you see your pain more clearly, pain management coaching can help you turn that understanding into practical change. Together we can explore how these concepts apply to your experience and build skills that support great safety, confidence, and ease in your life.
Reach out when you are ready to take the next step.
Disclaimer
Information provided on this website, including educational materials, pain neuroscience explanations, treatment suggestions, and any other content shared during sessions, classes, or coaching, is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
You should always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information you receive here.
Jennifer Brand Spa
Pain Management at 2717 Hwy K, O’Fallon, MO 63368