Who We Help
Neck Pain & Headaches
Symptoms
Does this sound familiar?
Draft descriptions of everyday experience, not diagnostic criteria. Requires clinical review.
Headaches that start at the base of the skull
Stiffness turning your head to reverse the car
Pain that worsens through a day at a desk
A shoulder that creeps up towards your ear
Waking with it, or waking because of it
Jaw tension alongside the neck pain
No referral needed
You don’t need a doctor’s referral to start physical therapy in North Dakota.
Neck pain rarely stays in the neck
Headaches, jaw tension and shoulder blade pain often travel together, because the structures involved do. Treating only the spot that hurts tends to buy a few days.
Alison assesses how the neck moves, how the upper back and shoulder contribute, and what your day asks of all three. Treatment usually combines hands-on work with specific exercises.
Alison is specially trained in instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (similar to ASTYM or Graston) and dry needling, in addition to being a Certified Manual Physical Therapist.
Numbness and tingling
Where hand numbness shows up can matter
That “pins and needles” feeling in your hand may seem random, but where you feel it can sometimes help point your provider in the right direction.
- Median nerve / carpal tunnel
Often affects the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger.
- Ulnar nerve irritation
Often affects the pinky and the pinky-side of the ring finger.
- Sometimes it starts at the neck
Neck-related nerve irritation can send symptoms down the arm into the hand.
- Wrist and forearm strain
Repetitive gripping, typing, tools, or tension can contribute to numbness and tingling.
The best part? You do not have to guess.
A physical therapy evaluation can help look at the bigger picture — neck mobility, posture, strength, grip, muscle tension, daily habits, and how your nerves are moving through the arm.
If hand numbness keeps coming back, wakes you up, affects your grip, or makes everyday tasks harder, it may be time to get it checked out. No referral needed.
Symptom patterns can offer clues, not a diagnosis. This section is for general awareness. Sources: Mayo Clinic, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome · MedlinePlus, Ulnar Nerve Dysfunction · American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Cervical Radiculopathy.
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Headaches are not inevitable.
No referral needed in North Dakota. Call or text 701-318-4731.