Glossary
- archaeology
-
the scientific study of human culture through human remains, artifacts, and other evidence
- benign
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the quality of being harmless, or not carrying disease; i.e., a benign tumor is not cancerous
- beta interferon
-
a drug that acts to suppress the immune system
- chronic progressive
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description for a condition that is continuous (chronic) and gets worse over time (progressive)
- conclusive
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describing information that cannot be interpreted a different way; giving a conclusion to a question
- intravenous
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entering the body through a tube inserted into the veins with a needle
- MRI
-
magnetic resonance imaging test
- multiple sclerosis
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a disease of the central nervous system that impacts basic coordination and body functions
- myelin
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the membrane that surrounds the nerves
- neurologist
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a medical doctor specializing in the nervous system
- neuropathic pain
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the pain caused by nerves described as burning, shooting, numbness, or tingling
- PhD
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abbreviation of "doctor of philosophy," the highest graduate degree (different from a "doctor of medicine" or MD)
- prednisone
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a steroid drug used to reduce inflammation
- psychosomatic
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describing a physical health condition that may be caused by a person's psychological health condition or emotional disturbance
- rehabilitation
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the restoration of health through training or therapy
- relapsing/remitting
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description for a condition that returns (relapses) and goes away (remits) unpredictably
- remission
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a temporary or permanent halting of active disease in a body
- sclerosis
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the scarring and an abnormal hardening of the myelin
- spasticity
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an abnormal increase in muscle tone and stiffness caused by damage to the nerves that transmit messages to and from the brain
- spinal tap
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a medical test in which a large needle is inserted into the back to remove spinal fluid for testing; also known as a lumbar puncture
- Tylenol 4
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a brand name prescription pain reliever that combines 300 mg acetaminophen and 60 mg codeine, a mild opiate
