Welcome to Nelson Chiropractic, PC

Derek J. Nelson, DC is a Rapid City chiropractor who serves Rapid City and the surrounding communities in the Black Hills of western SD .

Dr. Nelson is originally from Burke SD in south central SD.  His grandfather, Dr. JJ Nelson, was a chiropractor in Burke SD from 1956 until 1997.  Seeing the impact his grandfather had on this small community was a huge influence on Dr. Nelson becoming a chiropractor himself.  He attended SDSU for his undergraduate studies, and then to Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, MN - the same school his grandfather graduated from.  Immediately after graduation in 2008, Dr. Nelson moved to Rapid City to start his career and has enjoyed the Rapid City community ever since.

Annabelle Bowers is a certified chiropractic assistant was born and raised in the beautiful Black Hills! She graduated locally with a Dental Assistant degree but has worked in tourism for the last three years. She previously worked as an information host for The Black Hills Visitor Information Center, and Under Canvas as their Guest Experience Coordinator. She is passionate about meeting and helping people any way she can. In her free time, she enjoys going to the lake, camping, hiking, paddle boarding, and trying new things!

You won’t meet anybody more cheerful than Nancy Haugen. She grew up in Sioux Falls, moved to Rapid City 16 years ago – and loves it. A certified Chiropractic Assistant, she previously worked at the Newman Center on the campus of SDSM&T and for Black Hills Workshop. Nancy enjoys getting to know our patients and assisting them with their health care needs.  She and her husband have two daughters and a son. She enjoys hiking, live music and visiting her kids.

Lori Joyce is someone who cares and wants to do what she can to make your life better!   Lori grew up in South Dakota and after graduating from Rapid City Central High School she moved to Southern California where she obtained a marketing degree and started her
family.  With the love of the Black Hills and the slower pace of life Lori brought her family back to Rapid City embracing the opportunity to stay home with her three children.  Lori has been in management for several years and brought her skills to Nelson Chiropractic as the office manager in 2016.  She is a certified Chiropractic Assistant and she looks forward to supporting the
patients with their health care needs. 

“Dr. Nelson kept telling me how the nerves communicate with every cell and organ – not just pain. That reality is made very clear to me every day.” On November 24, 2018, Lori had a life-threatening fall down her stairs
in her home. She ended up with a spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the chest down.  After several months of rehab at the Craig Institute, she was able to return to Nelson Chiropractic in the spring of 2019. She understands more than anyone how important the
spine is. It communicates with the brain and tells every part of the body what you want it to do. 

“I am married with 3 beautiful daughters and a growing family who are so important to me.  And also important to me are the PATIENTS who come to Nelson Chiropractic!”