Knee arthritis
Osteoarthritis can cause knee pain and stiffness. Royal Pain’s approach may help you improve movement and daily function; treatment does not need to reverse cartilage changes to work toward those goals.
Knee pain Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill
When knee pain isn’t getting better, it deserves a closer look.
You’ve tried to get relief from knee pain, but stairs, walks, and exercise still get a second thought. Let’s look for what may have been missed—and help you get back to the activities you love with less pain.
You want answers and relief from knee pain—not another round of guessing.
- Your knee feels better with rest, but the pain returns when you start walking farther or exercising again.
- You’ve been told you have arthritis or a meniscus tear, and you’re wondering whether you can get relief without surgery.
- Knee pain is affecting more than exercise—it’s interfering with stairs, work, time with family, and everyday life.
Make sense of what you’ve been told.
Your knee diagnosis is a starting point. Let’s look closer.
Meniscus tears
A meniscus tear can follow an injury or develop over time. Having a tear doesn’t automatically mean you need surgery; your symptoms, the type of tear, and examination findings help guide the options.
Knee pain without a clear diagnosis
You don’t need a label before reaching out. Pain with stairs, walking, squatting, or getting up from a chair gives us a starting point for a closer look.
Can I get relief from knee pain without surgery?
Arthritis or a meniscus tear doesn’t tell us everything about your knee pain—or what could help. Your symptoms and assessment help determine the options worth exploring. Clinical source
At Royal Pain Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping people who are still hurting—even after exercises, physical therapy, chiropractic care, or other treatments.
- Look for what may have been missed. We examine your symptoms and movement beyond just where it hurts.
- Test, treat, and retest. We check what helps you hurt less and move better, then use those findings to guide your next step.
No clear diagnosis? Start with a conversation. Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT will discuss your symptoms and explain what he would assess first to better understand what’s happening.
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 knee arthritis or a meniscus tear.
Questions you might be asking.
How does Royal Pain approach knee pain?
If knee exercises or treatment haven’t brought relief, there may be a piece of the picture that hasn’t been addressed. Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT examines your knee and looks beyond where it hurts for factors that may have been missed. He tests movements that matter to you, provides treatment, then repeats the tests to see what changed. Those findings guide a plan focused on pain relief and getting back to daily activities.
What if I’ve already tried physical therapy, exercises, or other treatments without relief?
People who are still hurting after previous treatment are exactly who we specialize in helping at Royal Pain Physical Therapy. Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT starts with what you’ve tried, what helps, what doesn’t, and what you’ve been told. Your experience helps guide 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, injections, or knee surgery?
An assessment helps determine whether Royal Pain’s approach can help your knee pain and movement, and whether it is worth pursuing before a bigger treatment decision. Arthritis or a meniscus tear does not determine the same next step for everyone. Start with a phone conversation about your symptoms and the options you’re considering to find out whether an assessment 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 knee pain, what makes it 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 makes sense for you.
When to seek urgent medical help
Get prompt medical care if you cannot bear weight or move your knee, it is badly swollen or has changed shape, or it is hot and red with fever. A routine phone consultation is not a substitute for urgent assessment.
Get a recommendation. Know your next step.
Talk with Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT about your knee 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