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Your spinal column protects the nerve pathways that connect your brain to the rest of your body. Select any vertebra to see the areas its nerves serve — and the symptoms patients commonly bring to us.
Tap or click any vertebra
Each level of your spine has a pair of spinal nerves that branch out to specific muscles, joints, and areas of skin. Choose a level on the diagram — or a region above — to see what it does and how it can feel when it's irritated.
This guide is for education and isn't a diagnosis. Symptoms can have many causes — our doctors evaluate your history, movement, and exam findings before recommending any care.
Small adjustments to how you stand, sit, sleep, and drive add up to a happier spine. No perfection required — movement and variety matter most.
Like the rest of the body, spinal discs and joints change gradually with age and use. Understanding the stages helps you act early — when care makes the biggest difference.
Discs are tall and well-hydrated, spacing the vertebrae so joints move freely and nerves have plenty of room.
A disc begins to lose hydration and a little height. Motion may feel stiffer — though many people feel nothing at all yet.
Disc height visibly narrows and the body lays down small bony growths (bone spurs). Stiffness and flare-ups become more common.
Significant narrowing and larger spurs can limit motion and crowd nearby nerves. Symptoms vary — imaging doesn't always match how a person feels.
