What is Pain Management

What is Pain Management?

Pain is a common symptom experienced by people of all ages but can also be a disease in itself when it becomes chronic. Pain conditions can significantly impact quality of life and often require coordinated care across various specialties to ease this pain.

Pain management aims to reduce your pain as you recuperate and thereafter. Good pain relief is important as it decreases suffering, helps you to recover quickly, and most importantly, helps you to return to your usual activities.

Our centres offer a range of therapies and work collaboratively with you to create a treatment program and deliver care tailored to your specific needs.

We aim to help you achieve adequate quality of life in the presence of pain by:

1. lessening the pain
2. fostering a better understanding of the pain
3. assist you to live life despite the pain

It is important to note that pain management is not just the optimisation of medications and interventions. We also focus on pain education, therapy, and empowerment through self-management. To learn more about Pain Management, please refer to our resources here:

• SingHealth - Pain Management
• SingHealth - Pain Management and You

When Should You See a Pain Specialist ?

You should consider engaging our pain management services if:

• Your pain has lasted > 3 months 
• The pain interferes with your daily life – affecting your sleep, work, exercise, or relationships
• You've tried multiple treatments without adequate relief
• Pain affects your mood or mental health – causing anxiety, depression, or frustration
• You're concerned about medication dependence or experiencing side effects from pain medications
• You need help managing pain after surgery or an injury that isn't healing as expected
• Your pain is getting worse or spreading to other areas
• You're unsure what's causing your pain and need a comprehensive assessment

Don't wait until pain becomes unbearable. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes and can prevent pain from becoming more complex and difficult to treat.

What to Expect at Your First Consultation ?

Your initial consultation is comprehensive and focuses on understanding your unique pain experience:

Pain Assessment:

• Detailed discussion about your pain history, including when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your daily life
• Review of previous treatments you have tried and their effectiveness
• Review of your coping strategies while in pain
• Assessment of how pain impacts your sleep, mood, work/school, social activities and relationships, and vice versa
• Physical examination focused on your pain condition

Medical History Review:

• Current and past medical conditions, including mental health conditions
• Previous surgeries or injuries
• Complete medication review, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
• Previous treatments and management including TCM/herbal/other non-medical treatments
• Review of any scans, X-rays, or test results you've had

Treatment Planning:

• Discussion and counselling about your treatment goals and expectations
• Explanation of your diagnosis and pain condition in clear, understandable terms
• Overview of available treatment options suitable for your condition
• Development of a personalised treatment plan
• Setting realistic timelines and milestones