Back Pain Specialist in Singapore
Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam (李文鉴医生)
Consultant Pain Specialist, Singapore Paincare Center
Dr Bernard Lee is the founder of Singapore Paincare and a Consultant Pain Specialist at Singapore Paincare Center. With over 20 years of clinical practice, he developed the Painostic®️ approach to guide evidence-based, minimally invasive procedures. Alongside his patient care, he trains the next generation of doctors in interventional techniques for chronic pain and orthopaedic conditions.
Back Pain Specialist in Singapore
Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam
(李文鉴医生)
Consultant Pain Specialist, Singapore Paincare Center
Dr Bernard Lee is the founder of Singapore Paincare and a Consultant Pain Specialist at Singapore Paincare Center. With over 20 years of clinical practice, he developed the Painostic®️ approach to guide evidence-based, minimally invasive procedures. Alongside his patient care, he trains the next generation of doctors in interventional techniques for chronic pain and orthopaedic conditions.
Why Choose Dr. Bernard Lee
Lower Back Pain Overview
Lower back pain is very common in Singapore, and studies estimate that up to 80 percent of the Singapore population will experience it at least once in their lifetime. The discomfort can range from mild stiffness that lasts a few days to persistent pain that affects movement and daily tasks.
At Singapore Paincare, our pain specialists apply the Painostic® know-how to assess each patient’s condition thoroughly and recommend minimally invasive procedures tailored to individual needs. We identify the root sources of your back pain, develop a personalised treatment plan, and use refined injection techniques that ensure accurate needle placement and targeted delivery of medication. This precise approach provides focused, evidence-based care that supports recovery and helps patients return to daily activities with minimal disruption.
Understanding Lower Back Pain
Your back is composed of a complex structure:
- Bones: The lumbar vertebrae form the foundation of the spine and support the weight of the upper body.
- Discs: These act as cushions between each vertebra, absorbing pressure and allowing smooth movement.
- Joints: Small facet joints help guide motion such as bending and twisting.
- Soft tissue: Muscles, tendons, and ligaments provide stability, posture support, and controlled movement of the spine.
- Nerves: Spinal nerves travel through the lumbar region and supply sensation and strength to the hips and legs.
Because all these structures work closely together, irritation in one area can easily influence another. A strained muscle may increase pressure on the joints, while a bulging disc can irritate nearby nerves. Even stiffness in the pelvis or upper spine can shift load to the lower back and trigger pain.
What is a red flag for lower back pain?
Red flags for lower back pain are warning signs that suggest a more serious underlying condition. You should seek medical attention promptly if you experience:
- Sudden bowel and/or bladder incontinence
- Progressive weakness in the legs
- Severe, continuous abdominal and low back pain (possibly leaking blood vessel)
- Back pain with fever and chills
- History of cancer with recent weight loss
- Recent severe trauma, such as a fall or accident
These may indicate a more serious condition that requires proper evaluation.
What Are The Lower Back Pain Conditions We Treat?
The types of lower back pain conditions we treat include:
- Back sprain: Over stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the spine, often caused by sudden twisting, lifting, or awkward movement.
- Pinched nerve: Compression or irritation of a spinal nerve, which may lead to sharp pain, numbness, or tingling that travels into the hips or legs.
- Piriformis syndrome: Tightening or spasm of the piriformis muscle in the buttock, which can compress the sciatic nerve and cause radiating pain down the leg.
- Sciatica: Irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, commonly from disc or joint issues, resulting in shooting pain that may extend from the lower back to the foot.
- Slipped disc (herniated disc): Bulging or leakage of disc material that presses on nearby nerves, leading to back pain, leg pain, or muscle weakness.
- Spinal fracture: Breaks in the vertebrae caused by trauma or weakened bones, leading to sudden and severe back pain that requires prompt evaluation.
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal that places pressure on nerves, causing pain, numbness, or heaviness in the lower back or legs, especially when standing or walking.
- Spondylosis: Age related degeneration of the spinal discs and joints, which can result in stiffness, persistent back pain, or nerve irritation.
- Tailbone pain (coccydynia): Inflammation or injury of the tailbone area, often triggered by prolonged sitting, falls, or childbirth.
What Lower Back Pain Treatments Are Available at Singapore Paincare?
Singapore Paincare offers a range of targeted treatments for lower back pain, focusing on both muscle related and spine related causes. The treatment options include Myospan and Neurospan.
Myospan Injection
Myospan injections target muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, and nerves to break the pain cycle, reduce inflammation, and improve healing. Depending on the painful condition, different injections may be utilised to either remove the pain generator or stop the pain signals. Myospan treatments include:
- Coreflex injections
- Platelet-Rich Plasma Prolotherapy
- Intra-Articular Injections
- Myofascial Pain injections
- Peripheral Nerve Block
Neurospan
Neurospan treatments target spinal causes of lower back related pain such as slipped cervical discs, bone spurs, and nerve compressions. These procedures help decompress affected nerves, release scarred tissues, and reduce nerve sensitivity by addressing the underlying spinal source rather than the lower back muscle itself. Depending on the condition, different Neurospan options may be used to free impinged nerves or reduce pain transmission. Neurospan treatments for lower back pain include:
Our Pain Specialist
Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam (李文鉴医生)
More than 20 years of experiences in treating pain
Dr. Bernard Lee Mun Kam is the founder of Singapore Paincare and a Consultant Pain Specialist at Singapore Paincare Center. He has more than two decades of clinical experience in pain medicine and holds qualifications in anaesthesiology and interventional pain management, including a Masters of Medicine (Anaesthesiology) and Fellowship with the Faculty of Pain Medicine (Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists). He has been a pioneer in developing pain services in Singapore and previously led major hospital pain units, including Tan Tock Seng Hospital and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Recognised as one of Singapore’s early adopters of interventional pain techniques, Dr. Bernard introduced knifeless treatment methods that use specialised laser and balloon-based procedures for conditions such as slipped discs, nerve compression, arthritis and frozen shoulder. His multi-disciplinary training, including medical acupuncture, supports a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to treating pain without open surgery.
Dr. Bernard has a long-standing commitment to medical education. He has trained and mentored many doctors in Singapore and the region in interventional pain procedures and chronic pain management. Through the Singapore Paincare Academy, he continues to provide structured training for general practitioners, allied health professionals and TCM practitioners, ensuring consistent standards in pain assessment and treatment based on the Painostic® methodology.
Dr. Bernard is frequently invited to television and radio programmes to share his insights on pain conditions, treatment approaches and public education topics. His media contributions reflect his ongoing commitment to raising awareness of pain management and empowering the public with reliable medical information.
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