Royal Pain Physical Therapy · Chapel Hill
Meet Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT
Owner of Royal Pain Physical Therapy and author of Pain Is a Royal Nuisance.
For the past decade, I’ve helped adults work toward staying active with less pain—including people who haven’t found relief through previous treatment.
Why I started Royal Pain Physical Therapy
Traditional healthcare helps a lot of people, but it doesn’t help everyone.
Some people have tried rest, medication, stretching, and treatment. They’ve had X-rays or MRIs—and they’re still hurting. They want to stay active and healthy, but they haven’t found the answers they need.
That’s who I help.
Look closer. Check what changes.
I examine the movement that hurts, treat what I believe is contributing to the problem, then repeat that movement to see whether your symptoms improve. That helps us understand what your problem responds to—and what you need to move forward.
Education
- Drexel University
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
- University of Utah
- Undergraduate studies
Dry needling is one tool I may use when the assessment suggests it fits.Explore dry needling at Royal Pain.
I also use gentle hands-on treatment and teach ways to build on relief at home.Explore myofascial release at Royal Pain.
Let’s talk about your next step.
Tell me what hurts and what you’ve tried. I’ll explain what I would assess first and recommend a next step—including whether an appointment at Royal Pain makes sense for you.
Get to know the ideas behind my approach.
My book, Pain Is a Royal Nuisance, explores a process for working toward pain relief without medication or surgery. Start with a free copy if you’d like to learn more before deciding on your next step.
Explore your concerns.
Understand your options before deciding.
Talk with Dr. Nielsen about your symptoms, what you’ve tried, and where he would start to help you move forward.