algesi-, alge-, alges-, algesio-, algi-, algio-, -algesia, -algesic, -algetic, -algic, -algia, -algy

(Greek: pain, sense of pain; painful; hurting)

Used actively in medical terminology to denote a condition of sensitivity to pain as specified by the combining root.

pygalgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Outdated, soreness in the buttocks, i.e., a pain in the rump: Janet read that there were various reasons for pygalgia, or the suffering in the gluteus maximus, including an injury, a nerve compression, and overuse conditions.

Pygalgia is related to proctalgia, or pain in the rectum.

rachialgia, rhachialgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Outdated, pain in the vertebral column or spine: Rachialgia is a type of back pain , particularly known to have been Pott's disease, or previously termed lead colic.
rachianalgesia (s) (noun) (no pl)
The absence of pain in the the spinal area: Rachianalgesia is a very rare condition, but it has been reported that a case has was detected in the fourth lumbar vertebra.
radiculalgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Neuralgia due to irritation of the sensory root of a spinal nerve: Sally's professor told his class that radiculalgia resulted from an affliction of the spinal nerve roots.
rectalgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Pain at the anus or in the rectum; proctalgia: Lucy went to see her doctor because she was suffering in the area of her excretory opening, and Dr. Right diagnosed her as having a case of rectalgia which could be treated.
rheumatalgia (s) (noun), rheumatalgias (pl)
Outdated, rheumatic pain: Rheumatalgia is chronic and occurs when a person's immune system infects his or her tissues, and this results in stiffness and swelling of the joints.
rhinalgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
A pain in the nose; rhinodynia: Susan read in her book that rhinalgia referred to an infection, an autoimmune disease or an allergy of the proboscis (nose)..
sacralgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
1. Pain in the sacrum (triangular bone just below the lumbar vertebrae): Sacralgia is often the result of a disk prolapse or a slipped disk.
2. Etymology: from the Latin sacer, "sacred" + the Greek element algos, "pain".

The word "sacred" is used because the sacrum was considered a sacred (highly valued; holy) bone since it was believed that the sacrum could not be destroyed and that it was the part of the body that would allow someone to rise from the dead.

sacrocoxalgia (s) (noun), sacrocoxalgias (pl)
A painful condition of the triangular-shaped pelvic bone and the coccyx: When Al stepped outside, he slipped and fell on the ice and suffered a serious sacrocoxalgia in his back.
scapulalgia (s) (noun), scapulalgias (pl)
Pain in the scapular region (the flat, triangular bone in the back of the shoulder; the shoulder blade): Jeff found out that carrying a bag with shoulder straps or using the same arm over and over again, like in sports, swimming, or throwing balls, can cause injuries inside the shoulder which can result in scapulalgia.
scelalgia, skelalgia, scelalgy (s) (noun) (no pl)
Pain in the leg; neuralgia in the leg: Some people who suffer from scelalgia have had an injury or some health disorders in joints, bones, muscles, nerves, or in tendons in the legs.
somatalgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Pain in the body or bodily pain or suffering: Somatalgia is agony in a person's body due to organic causes, as opposed to distress due to psychical causes.
sphincteralgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Pain in a sphincter muscle, as of the anus: Dr. Smart explained to Anne that sphincteralgia in her rectum originated from a ringlike band of muscle fibers that constricted a passage or closed a natural orifice, termed a "sphincter".
spinalgia (s) (noun), spinalgias (pl)
Pain related to or emanating from the spinal column: Rick had such discomfort in his back that he went to Dr. Anderson, his doctor, and was diagnosed as having spinalgia and was recommended to have further treatment with a specialist.
splenalgia (s) (noun) (no pl)
Neuralgic pain in the spleen; splenodynia: Grace learned that splenalgia pertained to the agony in the spleen due to a fractured rib, or caused by a rupture following a powerful blow to the abdomen, or by a car accident, for example.

You may take self-scoring quizzes over some of the words in this unit by going to Algesi Quiz to check your word knowledge of these words.