prepain

noun

1. (uncountable)A physical sensation that is not pain but would become pain if it were more intense.

   “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).”

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

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

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

adj

1. Before the onset of pain.

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

   “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.”

   “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 .”