Radiculopathy occurs when the nerve in the spinal column is pinched or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. It can occur in any part of the spine, the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar regions of the spine. One common term for radiculopathy is ‘pinched nerve’, which is often used by doctors to help patients visualize what is happening.
Radiculopathy can cause pain that radiates into the shoulder, and can also cause muscle weakness and/or numbness traveling down the arm into the hand.
