Why Terminologies Matter: How Language Shapes Pain Care

A conversation for clinicians navigating complexity

By Laura Rathbone

At Pain Geeks, we believe that words aren't just tools, they're tectonic. They shape how we think, how we practice, and how we relate to the people we care for.

In our latest video chat, Christine and I discuss one of the most underappreciated but powerful tools in pain care: terminology.

🧠 Download the free "Pain Geeks Guide to Terminologies" by making your free profile in our community www.paingeeks.community

Trust me, we aren't just talking semantics here. In this conversation, we really dig into each othe's experiences as new graduates specialising in pain, the struggles of finding yourself in a new world with a new language and how we use IASP as a resource to support our thinking and understanding of pain.

Key themes:

• Why do definitions of pain keep changing?

• What are we really doing when we label someone’s pain as “chronic,” “nociplastic,” or “maladaptive”?

• Is precise terminology always helpful? Or can it limit clinical curiosity?

• How do language shifts reflect (and challenge) power structures in healthcare?

Special mention

We would like to extend our thanks to the International Association for the Study of Pain for all the work they do as a research community and in the tranlsation of that research. As clinicians and educators, we turn to their resourcs often and in the production of our terminologies guide we used it regularly. Our only aim is to bring more therapists and clinicians to the IASP so they can experience the growth that we have.

🎥 Watch the full discussion here

🧠 Download the free "Pain Geeks Guide to Terminologies" by making your free profile in our community www.paingeeks.community