Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, yet knowing which specialist to consult can often be confusing. If you’re struggling with chronic discomfort, joint pain, or other persistent issues, you may wonder whether to see a pain specialist or a rheumatologist. While both professionals focus on alleviating discomfort, their approaches, training, and areas of expertise are different.  

Understanding these differences can help you make informed decisions about your pain treatment and overall health. 

 

What Is a Pain Specialist? 

Understanding the Role of a Pain Specialist 

A pain specialist is a doctor who focuses exclusively on diagnosing, evaluating, and treating different types of pain conditions, especially those that are chronic, complex, or not well controlled by conservative treatments such as painkillers or physiotherapy. 

Training and Expertise 

Pain specialists are typically trained in fields such as anaesthesiology, rehabilitation medicine, or neurology, followed by additional subspecialty training in pain medicine. This allows them to understand how pain develops and how to treat it using advanced, minimally invasive techniques. 

What They Do 

Rather than focusing on structural damage or surgical repair, pain specialists recognise that pain is deeply personal, and looks at one’s medical history, physical signs, posture analysis, and pain patterns to form a clear diagnosis. Their goal is not only to relieve pain but also to improve quality of life, restore movement, and prevent pain from becoming chronic. 

Pain specialists are trained to handle a wide range of pain conditions, from common musculoskeletal issues to complex chronic disorders. Consultant pain specialist Dr. Bernard Lee specialises in diagnosing and treating a wide range of chronic and degenerative pain conditions through minimally invasive, evidence-based procedures. His expertise covers pain arising from the spine, joints, nerves, and muscles, as well as complex pain syndromes.

  • Joint Pain: Shoulder, knee, and hip pain caused by osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries, or bursitis 
  • Nerve-Related Pain: Sciatica, post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles pain), and neuropathic pain 
  • Musculoskeletal Pain: Muscle strain, myofascial pain syndrome, and fibromyalgia 
  • Post-Surgical or Post-Traumatic Pain: Persistent pain after surgery or injury 
  • Chronic Pain Conditions: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and other long-standing pain disorders 

Dr. Lee adopts a holistic and patient-centred approach, combining interventional pain procedures, regenerative therapies, rehabilitation, and lifestyle modification to achieve long-term pain relief and improved function. 

Common Pain Treatments 

Pain specialists offer non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments tailored to the source of your pain. These may include: 

  • Coreflex injections and nerve blocks: Specialised injections targeting muscles, tendons and ligaments to relieve pain
  • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy: A regenerative medicine approach that promotes natural healing.
  • Radiofrequency ablation: Using heat energy to disrupt pain transmission. 

A key advantage of seeing a pain specialist is their multidisciplinary approach combining medical, physical, and sometimes psychological strategies to manage pain holistically. 

 

What is a Rheumatologist? 

A rheumatologist is a medical doctor specialised in diagnosing and treating autoimmune, inflammatory, and musculoskeletal diseases. While they do treat some types of pain conditions, their focus is on identifying and managing the underlying disease rather than only addressing symptoms. 

Training and Expertise 

Rheumatologists begin with internal medicine training and then complete a fellowship in rheumatology. This specialised training equips them to recognise complex autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, interpret lab results, and prescribe disease-modifying treatments. 

Conditions Treated by Rheumatologists 

Rheumatologists primarily treat conditions that cause inflammation, joint damage, and systemic symptoms. Common conditions include: 

  • Rheumatoid arthritis 
  • Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) 
  • Osteoarthritis 
  • Gout 
  • Fibromyalgia 
  • Ankylosing spondylitis 

Although some of these conditions cause chronic pain, the rheumatologist’s approach is to treat the disease itself, which in turn helps manage pain. 

Treatment Approaches 

Rheumatologists focus on controlling inflammation and preventing disease progression through: 

  • Medications: DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), biologics, corticosteroids, NSAIDs 
  • Regular monitoring with lab tests and imaging 
  • Lifestyle and exercise recommendations tailored to joint health 
  • Referral to physical therapy or occupational therapy as supportive care 

Unlike pain specialists, rheumatologists rarely perform interventional procedures like nerve blocks or injections. Their treatments aim to modify the disease process rather than only alleviate pain symptoms. 

 

When to See a Pain Specialist 

You might consider consulting a pain specialist if: 

  • You have persistent pain that does not respond to standard treatment 
  • The pain affects daily activities and quality of life 
  • You need a comprehensive chronic pain treatment plan 
  • You are looking for minimally invasive procedures to manage pain 

Pain specialists are particularly effective when pain exists without a clear underlying autoimmune or inflammatory condition. Their expertise in pain treatment focuses on both the physical and functional aspects of pain. 

 

When to See a Rheumatologist 

Consult a rheumatologist if: 

  • You have joint swelling, stiffness, or pain with systemic symptoms like fatigue or rashes 
  • Lab tests suggest autoimmune or inflammatory disease 
  • You need disease-modifying medications to prevent long-term damage 
  • Pain is caused by an underlying condition such as arthritis, lupus, or gout 

Rheumatologists can diagnose complex diseases that may not be obvious initially. Treating the root cause of these pain conditions often leads to better long-term outcomes. 

 

Pain Specialists and Rheumatologists 

Some pain conditions overlap between these two specialties, with fibromyalgia being a prime example. Fibromyalgia causes widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. While rheumatologists can diagnose and monitor the condition, pain specialists often manage symptom relief and functional improvement. 

In many cases, a combination of both specialists may provide the most effective care. For example, a patient with rheumatoid arthritis may see a rheumatologist for disease management and a pain specialist for chronic joint pain that persists despite treatment. 

 

Benefits of Early Consultation 

Early consultation with the right specialist is crucial for effective pain treatment and long-term health. Some benefits include: 

  • Faster diagnosis and targeted treatment 
  • Prevention of disease progression in inflammatory conditions 
  • Reduced risk of chronic pain development 
  • Improved overall quality of life and functional capacity 

By understanding the distinctions between a pain specialist and a rheumatologist, patients can make more informed decisions and avoid unnecessary delays in care. 

 

Key Takeaways 

  • Pain specialists focus on managing pain conditions through interventions, medications, and therapy. They are experts in chronic pain treatment. 
  • Rheumatologists specialise in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, aiming to control disease progression while indirectly managing pain. 
  • Some conditions, like fibromyalgia, may benefit from both specialists working together. 
  • Choosing the right specialist depends on your symptoms, test results, and whether the goal is symptom management or disease control. 

Understanding these differences ensures that patients receive the right care at the right time, improving both pain relief and overall health outcomes.