1. About.com
  2. Health
  3. Back & Neck Pain

Discuss in my forum

Understanding Radiculopathy - Nerve Roots and Dermatomes

By , About.com Guide

Updated November 17, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

1 of 4

Part 1- Nerve Pain

Learning to distinguish between nerve pain and other types of pain (such as muscular) can help you recognize serious problems requiring medical attention, such as radiculopathy. It might also help you understand what is happening in your body when you have back or neck pain.

Many times degenerative disk disease, or other problems involving the intervertebral disk lead to unbearable back pain. This might be due to accompanying damage to the nerve root.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.