Definition of Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy: Any disease of the spinal nerve roots and spinal nerves. It is synonymous with radiculitis.

Radiculopathy is characterized by pain which seems to radiate from the spine to extend outward to cause symptoms away from the source of the spinal nerve root irritation.

Causes of radiculopathy include deformities of the discs between the building blocks of the spine (the vertebrae). Patients with diabetes can be affected by a curious form of radiculopathy which may be caused by inadequate blood supply to the spinal nerve roots.