Dr. Bernard Lee Was Featured in Lianhe Wanbao for His Expertise on Frozen Shoulder
May 13, 2026
CONTENTS
Shoulder pain is something many people put up with for months before seeking help. When it does not go away, finding the right specialist matters.
One way to find out who other patients and the media trust is to look at who gets asked.
In September 2014, Singapore’s Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Wanbao (联合晚报) asked Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam to answer a reader’s question about shoulder pain and stiffness. Dr. Lee is a Consultant Pain Specialist and the Founder of Singapore Paincare Center.
Why Lianhe Wanbao Turned to Dr. Bernard Lee
The article — 《双肩酸痛患上五十肩？》 (“Aching Shoulders — Could It Be Frozen Shoulder?”) — appeared in Wanbao’s 《你问医答》 (“You Ask, Doctors Answer”) column on 8 September 2014.
The column works simply: real readers write in with medical questions, and the editors find a specialist to answer. The specialist they chose for this frozen shoulder question was Dr. Bernard Lee.
A 60-year-old reader named Mr Su had been dealing with aching in both shoulders and stiff fingers for over two months. He could not make a fist properly. He wanted to know whether he had frozen shoulder, how to tell the difference from other conditions, and what he could do about it.
It sounds like a straightforward question. Dr. Lee’s response showed it was anything but.
What Dr. Lee Explained in the Article
Rather than jumping straight to an answer, Dr. Lee walked through the possible causes one by one. He explained that when both shoulders ache and the fingers are also stiff, several conditions need to be considered — not just frozen shoulder.
He covered four:
- Rheumatoid arthritis affects many joints at the same time, including the fingers. Patients often feel very stiff in the mornings, and the joints can become swollen or warm. A blood test can confirm it. Because it involves the immune system, treatment is very different from frozen shoulder.
- Fibromyalgia causes widespread aching across the body — the neck, back, and arms. It is often linked to poor sleep and fatigue. There is no single test to diagnose it. Doctors rule out other causes first.
- Cervical spine compression happens when a nerve in the neck is pressed on by a disc or bone spur. The pain travels into the shoulder and arm, and usually affects just one side. An MRI of the neck helps confirm this.
- Frozen shoulder (五十肩) can affect one or both shoulders. In the early stages, even simple movements — lifting the arm, combing hair, reaching behind the back — become painful. If it is not treated, the joint capsule tightens and contracts. At that stage, the tissues around the shoulder effectively lock up together.
On treatment, Dr. Lee was direct. Pain from frozen shoulder often stops patients from doing the physiotherapy they need. When that happens, nerve block therapy or prolotherapy — a type of regenerative injection — can bring the pain down enough for rehabilitation to work properly.
This kind of structured, practical thinking is what comes from over two decades of treating complex pain cases.
About Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam
Dr. Bernard Lee is the Founder and CEO of Singapore Paincare Holdings Limited. He has more than 20 years of experience in chronic and interventional pain management.
He set up the Chronic and Interventional Pain Management Service at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 2002 and served as Director of its Pain Management Unit. He later founded Singapore’s first Women’s Pain Centre at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where he worked from 2009 to 2018.
Dr. Lee developed Painostic® — a registered diagnostic method used at Singapore Paincare Center to find the true source of a patient’s pain before any treatment is recommended.
Shoulder pain, including frozen shoulder, is one of his core areas of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Bernard Lee and why is he considered a frozen shoulder specialist in Singapore? Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam is a Consultant Pain Specialist with over 20 years of experience in pain management. He founded Singapore Paincare Center and previously led pain services at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Lianhe Wanbao selected him as their expert voice on frozen shoulder diagnosis and treatment in their 《你问医答》 column.
What did Dr. Bernard Lee share about frozen shoulder in Lianhe Wanbao? In his September 2014 feature, Dr. Lee explained that bilateral shoulder pain with finger stiffness can have several causes — not just frozen shoulder. He walked through rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, cervical spine compression, and frozen shoulder, explaining how to tell them apart. For frozen shoulder, he recommended nerve block therapy and prolotherapy when pain is severe enough to limit physiotherapy.
How is frozen shoulder different from other causes of shoulder pain? Frozen shoulder stiffens and restricts the shoulder joint itself, without affecting the fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis involves multiple joints including the fingers. Cervical spine compression sends pain down the arm and usually affects one side. Fibromyalgia causes widespread body aching beyond the shoulder alone. Getting the diagnosis right matters because each condition needs a different treatment.
Where can I see Dr. Bernard Lee for shoulder pain in Singapore? Dr. Lee sees patients at Singapore Paincare Center. Clinics are located at Paragon Medical (290 Orchard Road #18-03) and Novena Medical Center (38 Irrawaddy Road #07-33). Appointments can be booked at sgpaincare.com.
The Original Lianhe Wanbao Article
The feature — 《双肩酸痛患上五十肩？》 — was published on 8 September 2014 in Lianhe Wanbao, as part of the 《你问医答》 series. Chinese-speaking patients who want to read Dr. Lee’s full explanation in Mandarin can refer to the original article.
See Dr. Bernard Lee for Shoulder Pain in Singapore
If your shoulder has been aching or stiffening for more than a few weeks, the right first step is a proper assessment — not months of waiting to see if it gets better on its own.
Book a consultation with Dr. Bernard Lee at Singapore Paincare Center.
📍 Paragon Medical: 290 Orchard Road #18-03, Singapore 238859
📍 Novena Medical Center: 38 Irrawaddy Road #07-33, Singapore 329563
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and treatment plan suited to your individual condition.
Last Update May 2026