Frequently Ask Questions

General Pain Specialist

A pain specialist is a doctor with additional postgraduate training in diagnosing and treating complex or persistent pain, beyond general medical training. At Singapore Paincare, our specialists hold further qualifications in pain medicine and anaesthesiology, with hands-on experience in image-guided, minimally invasive procedures, so we can look for the true cause of your pain rather than simply treating the symptom.

A pain specialists’s role is to find the true cause of your pain, not simply mask the symptom. We take time to understand your history, examine you thoroughly, and where needed use diagnostic nerve blocks or imaging to pinpoint the exact structure or nerve pathway involved, so your treatment plan addresses the cause, not just how the pain feels.

If your pain has lasted more than 4–6 weeks, keeps returning, or is starting to affect your sleep, work, or daily life, it’s worth speaking to a pain specialist. This is especially true if you’ve already seen a GP or physiotherapist without lasting relief. We look more closely at pain that hasn’t responded to first-line care, so you can understand what’s really going on and what can be done about it.

No, you don’t need a referral to see us. Like most private pain specialist clinics in Singapore, we welcome walk-in and direct appointments without a GP referral. Some hospital-based or subsidised pain clinics may require one depending on the funding scheme, so it’s worth checking with the specific institution if you’re relying on a subsidy or referral-linked insurance pathway.

A pain specialist focuses on finding and treating the source of your pain through non-surgical and minimally invasive methods, often helping you avoid or delay surgery. An orthopaedic surgeon manages conditions that may need structural surgical correction, while a physiotherapist supports your recovery through movement, strengthening, and rehabilitation. These three roles often work closely together as part of one care plan.

About Our Specialists

Our pain specialist team is led by Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam (Founder & CEO, Consultant Pain Specialist) and Dr. Yoong Chee Seng (Consultant Pain Specialist, Director of Education and Training), bringing more than 40 years of combined clinical experience in interventional pain management.

Dr. Bernard Lee holds a Master of Medicine (Anaesthesiology) and a Fellowship with the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Before founding Singapore Paincare in 2020, he established the Chronic and Interventional Pain Management Service at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and founded Singapore’s first Women’s Pain Centre at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. [→ Read Full Bio of Dr. Bernard Lee]

Dr. Yoong Chee Seng holds a Master of Medicine (Anaesthesia) from the National University of Singapore (1994) and became Singapore’s first local graduate of the Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) in 2005. Before joining us, he served as Director of the Chronic Pain Service at Changi General Hospital (2015 to 2020) and Chief of its Department of Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care (2006 to 2012), trained in pain management in Australia, and has served on the MOH Opioids Committee since 2018. [→ Read Full Bio of Dr. Yoong Chee Seng]

Diagnosis & Treatment 

Pain specialists treat neck pain, back pain, sciatica, slipped discs, shoulder pain and frozen shoulder, knee pain, headaches and migraines, nerve pain (including trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy), fibromyalgia, and cancer-related pain. At Singapore Paincare, we also treat pelvic, abdominal, and joint-related pain that hasn’t responded to standard treatment.

Beyond the standard history and physical exam, a thorough diagnostic workup often includes imaging and diagnostic nerve blocks, meaning injections used to confirm or rule out a specific nerve or structure as the pain source. We formalise this process through our Painostic® framework (see above), which also weighs referred pain pathways so treatment targets the true generator, not just where the pain is felt.

Painostic® is our proprietary, trademarked diagnostic methodology, developed by our founder, Dr. Bernard Lee. Instead of relying on scans alone, we evaluate pain across four dimensions: Pain Patterns (timing, triggers, and how pain radiates), Pathology (structural or physiological changes found on exam, imaging, and diagnostic nerve blocks), Pain Perception (how the nervous system processes and amplifies pain signals), and Psychology (the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural factors that influence how pain is experienced).

This four-dimensional assessment then feeds into three clinical protocols we apply with every patient: Diagnostic Formulation, which differentiates mechanical from functional pain and considers referred pain pathways rather than treating only the site of symptoms; the Injection Roadmap, a structured, evidence-based sequence for selecting the most appropriate combination of procedures, physiotherapy, and medication; and Injection Technique, a refined method for needle depth and placement to ensure treatment is delivered precisely to the affected structure. Together, these protocols are what turn a Painostic® diagnosis into your personalised treatment plan.

Common treatments include minimally invasive, image-guided procedures such as radiofrequency ablation, nerve blocks, epidural injections, joint injections, and neuroplasty for compressed spinal nerves. We offer these under our own protocols, Myospan (soft tissue and joint) and Neurospan (spinal and nerve), typically combined with medication, physiotherapy, or cognitive behavioural therapy for a fuller treatment plan.

Not necessarily. Most chronic pain conditions can be managed without going anywhere near an operating theatre. A pain specialist’s usual approach is to pinpoint the exact cause first, then work through targeted, minimally invasive outpatient treatments to reduce pain and restore function, only referring on for surgery if those options don’t achieve a clinically acceptable result.

Minimally invasive procedures generally carry a lower risk of complications and shorter recovery than open surgery, since they use small needle- or catheter-based access points rather than incisions. Effectiveness varies by condition and individual, and outcomes are not guaranteed. A pain specialist will explain risks, benefits, and expected recovery before any procedure.

It depends on the underlying condition: some causes of pain can be resolved completely with the right procedure, while degenerative or chronic conditions may need periodic, ongoing management rather than a one-off fix. Either way, the realistic goal is meaningful, lasting improvement in daily comfort, mobility, and reduced dependence on medication, not necessarily a permanent, one-time cure.

Patient Experience

Expect to spend time walking through your pain history in detail (when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you’ve already tried), followed by a physical exam and a review of any existing scans or reports. With us, this feeds into a Painostic® assessment, after which your specialist explains the likely cause of your pain and lays out a staged treatment roadmap before you leave.

Most minimally invasive pain procedures are performed on a day-surgery or outpatient basis, with many patients able to return to light daily activities within a day or two. Recovery time varies by procedure and individual. Your pain specialist will advise on activity restrictions specific to your treatment.

Frequently, yes. Physiotherapy is often paired with interventional treatment rather than used alone, since strengthening and correcting movement patterns helps sustain the relief a procedure provides. Our model also folds in cognitive behavioural therapy and, where appropriate, Traditional Chinese Medicine, so these complementary services sit under one coordinated plan instead of requiring separate referrals.

Insurance & Payment

MediSave can be used for selected outpatient interventional pain procedures that qualify under MOH’s Chronic Disease Management Programme or approved outpatient treatment lists, subject to prevailing MediSave withdrawal limits. Coverage depends on the specific procedure and your eligibility. Speak to our team before treatment to confirm what applies to your case.

Integrated Shield Plans may cover pain management procedures performed in a day-surgery or hospital setting, on top of the MediShield Life component that all Singapore Citizens and PRs hold. Coverage depends on your specific plan, rider, and whether your treating specialist is on your insurer’s panel or extended panel. We can help you check this before booking.

Yes. We give you an estimated cost breakdown (including professional fees and any facility charges) before treatment begins, so you can plan accordingly. Final costs depend on the treatment plan agreed with your specialist and any applicable insurance or MediSave offset.

We can provide medical reports or memos to support insurance or employer claims, though professional fees may apply since these require clinical review and documentation time. Let us know your turnaround time and any specific claim deadline when you request one, so we can plan accordingly.

Locations & Booking

Our pain specialist clinic, Singapore Paincare Center, operates from Paragon Medical Centre on Orchard Road and Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre.

You can book directly with us by phone, through our website enquiry form, or via WhatsApp at 8777 9500, and no referral is required. Having a brief summary of your pain history, any existing scans or medical reports, and your current medications ready when you book helps your pain specialist prepare for a more productive first visit.