What condition is described as pain, numbness, or weakness caused by nerve root compression?

Radiculopathy is characterized by pain, numbness, or weakness resulting from the compression of nerve roots as they exit the spinal column. This condition typically occurs when a herniated disc, bone spur, or other structural issues in the spine intrude upon the space where nerve roots pass. The affected nerve root leads to symptoms that can radiate along the path of the nerve, affecting specific areas that each nerve supplies.

In radiculopathy, patients often experience a combination of these symptoms, which can be localized to the back or neck depending on the site of nerve root involvement, but they can also radiate down an arm or leg. It is essential to identify and differentiate radiculopathy from other conditions, as it specifically implicates nerve root involvement.

While a herniated disc can lead to radiculopathy, and conditions like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia encompass different symptoms, radiculopathy distinctly highlights the direct relationship between nerve root compression and the resulting neurological symptoms. This clear connection to nerve root compression is what makes radiculopathy the accurate term for the described condition in the question.