Degenerative disc disease
Disc changes describe what’s happening in your spine—but don’t tell the whole story of your pain or what you can do about it.
Back pain Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill
When back pain keeps coming back, it deserves a closer look.
You’ve tried to get relief from back pain, but you’re still hurting. Let’s take a closer look at what may have been missed—and help you get back to the activities you love with less pain.
You want answers and relief from back pain—not another round of guessing.
- Your back feels better when you rest, but the pain returns when you start exercising again.
- You’ve been told there are changes in your spine, and you’re wondering whether you can get relief without surgery.
- Your back pain is affecting more than exercise—it’s interfering with work, time with family, and everyday life.
Make sense of what you’ve been told.
Your diagnosis is a starting point. Let’s look closer.
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Narrowing around spinal nerves can make standing and walking painful or difficult.
Back pain with leg symptoms
Pain, tingling, or numbness traveling into your leg deserves a more specific assessment.
If you’ve been given one of these diagnoses, you may be wondering:
Can I still get relief from back pain?
Your diagnosis doesn’t tell the whole story. Research shows that disc degeneration and other spinal changes can also appear in people without pain. Research source
At Royal Pain Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping people who are still hurting—whether they’ve been diagnosed with disc degeneration or spinal stenosis, or haven’t found relief through physical therapy, chiropractic care, or other treatments.
No clear diagnosis? You can still start with a conversation.
Not ready to book an appointment yet?
Start with a free copy of Pain Is a Royal Nuisance. Explore a process for working toward pain relief without medication or surgery—even if you’ve been told you have disc degeneration or spinal stenosis.
Questions you might be asking.
How does Royal Pain approach back pain?
If you’ve tried back exercises or treatment but are still hurting, there may be a piece of the picture that hasn’t been addressed. At Royal Pain Physical Therapy, Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT examines your back and looks beyond where it hurts for factors that may have been missed. He tests your movement, provides treatment, then repeats the same tests to see what changed. That gives you and Dr. Nielsen evidence of what’s helping your pain and movement—and guides what to do next.
What if I’ve already tried physical therapy or chiropractic care without relief?
People who are still hurting after physical therapy, chiropractic care, or other treatments are exactly who we specialize in helping at Royal Pain Physical Therapy. What you’ve tried gives us useful information—even when it hasn’t helped. Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT starts with a conversation about what you’ve tried, what helps, what doesn’t, and what you’ve been told. That gives him a starting point for what to examine next, rather than simply repeating an approach that hasn’t worked for you.
Can Royal Pain help me explore options beyond medication or surgery?
By the end of your first treatment session, Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT can generally tell whether Royal Pain’s approach can help your pain and movement—and whether it’s worth pursuing as an alternative to pain medication, injections, or surgery. Start with a phone conversation about what you’ve tried and the options you’re considering. You can find out whether an assessment at Royal Pain makes sense for you.
What happens when I schedule a call with Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT?
You’ll speak directly with Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT about your symptoms, what makes them better or worse, and what you’ve already tried. Based on that conversation, he’ll explain what he would look at first and recommend a next step—including whether an in-person assessment at Royal Pain makes sense for you.
When to seek urgent medical help
Seek emergency care for back pain with new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or severe or rapidly worsening weakness in the legs. Do not wait for a consultation for those symptoms.
Get a recommendation. Know your next step.
Talk with Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT about your back pain and what you’ve tried. He’ll explain what he would look at first and recommend where to go from here.
Governors Village · 50101 Governors Drive, Suite 280
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 · Get directions