Chronic painful radiculopathy (Q93978)

Chronic painful radiculopathy is persistent or recurrent pain caused by a lesion or disease involving the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral nerve roots. Degenerative changes of the spinal column including ligaments and intervertebral discs are the most frequent cause. Pain within the affected dermatomes (radicular pain) is required for the diagnosis. The pain may be spontaneous but is typically exacerbated or provoked by taking or maintaining a certain body position, or during movement. Negative (e.g., decrease or loss of sensation) and positive sensory symptoms or signs must be compatible with the innervation territory of the affected nerve root (or roots).