Cervical arthritis and disc degeneration
Being told you have arthritis or disc degeneration doesn’t tell you how much better you could feel—or which treatment could help.
Neck pain Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill
When neck pain isn’t getting better, it deserves a closer look.
Stretching, rest, or a different pillow haven’t solved your neck pain—and you don’t want to rely on pain relievers. Let’s look for what may have been missed.
Your neck pain is affecting more of your life. You want answers.
- Even simple movements—looking down, looking up, or turning your head—have become painful.
- Sleep, desk work, or exercise keeps bringing the pain back—even when you’ve found some temporary relief.
- It’s bothering you more often, with more activities—and you’re worried it will keep getting worse.
“I have received relief from chronic neck and shoulder pain. Increasing mobility as well.”
— Cheryl Gazaleh
Individual experience; results vary.
Make sense of what you’ve been told.
Your neck symptoms deserve more than a label.
Cervical herniated discs
A herniated disc in your neck can irritate a nerve and contribute to neck or arm symptoms. Having one doesn’t automatically mean surgery—Royal Pain can assess whether our approach could help you move with less pain.
Neck pain with arm symptoms
Pain, burning, tingling, or numbness into your arm or hand can involve a pinched or irritated nerve. That doesn’t automatically mean surgery—Royal Pain can assess whether our approach could help relieve your symptoms.
Neck pain without a clear diagnosis
You don’t need a diagnosis before discussing what hurts and what you’ve tried. Start with the movements and activities that have become difficult.
Worried about disc degeneration or a bulging disc?
Studies of people without neck symptoms have found cervical disc degeneration, protrusions, and bulges on MRI. Finding these changes doesn’t, by itself, explain everything about why your neck hurts. Source
A separate MRI study of 1,211 symptom-free volunteers also documented cervical disc bulging. 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 neck pain or cervical disc changes.
Questions you might be asking.
How does Royal Pain approach neck pain?
Dr. Derek Nielsen, PT, DPT assesses your neck, shoulders, and mid-back. If turning, looking down, or looking up hurts, he checks that movement before and after treatment. What changes helps guide a plan for working, sleeping, and staying active with less pain.
Why does my neck still hurt after changing pillows or trying exercises?
A pillow change or an exercise may provide some relief without addressing everything contributing to your symptoms. Your shoulders and mid-back may also need attention. Dr. Nielsen assesses those areas alongside your neck, then rechecks the painful movement to see what treatment changes.
Does arthritis or disc degeneration mean my neck pain will get worse?
Those findings alone don’t predict how you’ll feel or what improvement is possible. Royal Pain considers your symptoms, movement, strength, and treatment response to explore what could help. New or worsening weakness, numbness, or balance problems need medical assessment.
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 neck 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
Seek emergency care for neck pain after a serious injury, or with sudden weakness, trouble speaking, a severe sudden headache, or fever with a very stiff neck. New or worsening arm or leg weakness, loss of balance, or bladder or bowel changes need prompt medical assessment; do not wait for a routine call.
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
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