Hip osteoarthritis
Hip arthritis doesn’t automatically mean giving up longer walks or the activities you love. Royal Pain assesses whether treatment could reduce pain and improve daily function, even though it cannot reverse cartilage loss.
Hip pain Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill
When hip pain isn’t getting better, it deserves a closer look.
Stretching and rest haven’t solved your hip pain—and you don’t want to rely on pain relievers. Let’s look for what may have been missed.
You want answers and relief from hip pain—not another round of guessing.
- Rest eases your hip pain, but longer walks, stairs, or workouts bring it back.
- You’ve been told you have hip arthritis, a labral tear, or impingement, and you’re wondering what is possible without surgery.
- Pain is interfering with sleep, getting out of the car, work, or everyday time with family.
“Derek is a true professional.”
— Jennifer Brown
Individual experience; results vary.
Make sense of what you’ve been told.
Your hip symptoms deserve more than a label.
Hip labral tears and impingement
A labral tear or femoroacetabular impingement doesn’t necessarily mean surgery is your next step. Royal Pain assesses your symptoms and movement to explore whether our approach could help with walking, stairs, and exercise.
Pain on the outside of the hip
Pain with lying on your side, stairs, or longer walks may involve the tendons and nearby tissues. Royal Pain takes a closer look at what brings on the pain and whether treatment could help you return to those activities.
Worried about a hip labral tear?
MRI studies have found hip labral tears in volunteers without hip pain. A tear seen on a scan therefore needs to be considered alongside your symptoms and examination. Source
Your scan shows structure. We also want to know what changes your pain.
Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT starts with the movement that hurts, examines what may be contributing, then checks whether treatment changes that same movement.
Assess first.
At Royal Pain, we examine the movement that hurts and use a hands-on assessment to look for what may be contributing to your pain.
Treat and recheck.
We treat what we believe is contributing, then repeat the painful movement to check whether your symptoms improve. Your response guides what we do next.
Build on the response.
We use what helps to guide your treatment and show you what to do at home—so you can build on the relief and address what’s contributing to your pain.
Start with a conversation. Tell Dr. Nielsen what hurts and what you’ve tried. He’ll explain what he would assess first and recommend a next step.
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 hip pain, arthritis, or a labral tear.
Questions you might be asking.
How does Royal Pain approach hip pain?
Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT assesses your hip and looks beyond where it hurts. He tests a movement that matters to you, such as walking or stepping up, provides treatment, then retests. Your response helps guide what to work on next.
What if exercises or physical therapy haven’t helped?
We specialize in helping people who are still hurting after treatment. Dr. Nielsen asks what helped, what didn’t, and which movements still hurt. Your experience guides a closer assessment rather than simply another round of the same exercises.
Can Royal Pain help me explore options before hip surgery?
Hip arthritis or a labral tear doesn’t automatically determine your next step. Royal Pain assesses your symptoms, movement, and treatment response to explore whether our approach could help with walking, stairs, and daily activities. A call can help you decide whether an assessment makes sense.
What will I get from my first appointment at Royal Pain?
Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT assesses what may be contributing to your pain and provides treatment during your first visit. You’ll leave with:
- A clear understanding of what’s happening and what may be triggering your symptoms.
- What you can start doing on your own for pain relief.
- A recommendation for addressing the problem long term—what it will take to move beyond temporary relief.
What happens when I schedule a call with Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT?
You’ll discuss your hip pain, what makes it better or worse, and what you’ve tried. Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT will explain what he would assess first and recommend a next step—including whether an in-person assessment at Royal Pain makes sense.
When to seek urgent medical help
Get urgent medical care for severe hip pain after a fall or injury, inability to bear weight, or a hot swollen hip with fever. Sudden leg weakness or bladder or bowel changes also need prompt medical assessment rather than a routine consultation.
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.
Governors Village · 50101 Governors Drive, Suite 280
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 · Get directions
Explore related concerns.
Back painPain with bending, lifting, exercise, or everyday activities.SciaticaLeg symptoms interrupting walking, exercise, or everyday activities.Knee painPain with squatting, lunging, running, or hiking.Neck painPain with turning your head, workouts, desk work, or sleep.Shoulder painPain with reaching, lifting weights, exercise, or sleeping on your side.