prepain

English

Etymology

pre- +‎ pain

Noun

prepain (uncountable)

1. A physical sensation that is not pain but would become pain if it were more intense.
   • 1984, Burkhart Bromm, Pain Measurement in Man: Neurophysiological Correlates of Pain, page 443:

     Mostly the subjects experienced either no sensation at all, or pain; only a very small prepain range was found (a just noticeable tactile sensation, as described in Chapter 27).

   • 2016, Mary Pullig Schatz, Back Care Basics:

     You can learn what to do at the first signals of prepain and thereby avoid the true disability that accompany a fullblown attack.

   • 2002, Kenneth M. Hargreaves, ‎ Harold E. Goodis, Seltzer and Bender's Dental Pulp, page 168:

     As described above, pain and prepain are the only sensations that can be evoked by intradental nerve stimulation in human subjects.

   • 2012, Winston C.V. Parris, Contemporary Issues in Chronic Pain Management, page 138:

     Even in trained normal subjects, the pain threshold, where prepain becomes just noticeably painful, is a composite of nuances and is difficult to judge.

Adjective

prepain (comparative more prepain, superlative most prepain)

1. Before the onset of pain.
   • 1983, Dennis C. Turk, ‎Donald Meichenbaum, ‎Myles Genest, Pain and Behavioral Medicine: A Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective, page 202:

     Assessment of prepain functioning often provides insights into behavioral, cognitive, and affective responses subsequent to pain onset.

   • 1986, Sharon L. Roberts, Behavioral Concepts and the Critically Ill Patient, page 15:

     After a diagnosis of pain has been made, the critical care nurse organizes nursing interventions around three categories: prepain experience, actual pain experience, and postpain experience.

   • 1996, Clare Philips, ‎Stanley Rachman, The Psychological Management of Chronic Pain: A Treatment Manual, page 177:

     Having described these two patterns to the patients, it is important to point out that with a contiuation of these patterns [see Figure 14.1(i) and (ii)] neither group will return to their prepain activity levels .