Pain management is a comprehensive field of medicine that aims to help individuals manage chronic or acute pain and improve their quality of life. It involves understanding the underlying cause of pain and creating a personalised plan that combines medication, rehabilitation and supportive therapies.
Read on to find out what pain management means, how it works and what you can expect when you seek help from a pain management clinic in Singapore .
Classification and Types of Pain
Pain can differ widely in its cause, duration and intensity. Sometimes, it is even hard to identify its exact source, as the body’s signals can overlap and interact in complex ways. It may feel sharp, stabbing, throbbing, dull, aching or burning—and can persist or worsen with certain movements or activities.
Pain is generally classified into two types:
- Acute Pain
This type of pain develops suddenly, often after an injury, surgery or illness—such as a sprained ankle, surgical incision, dental extraction or labour. It usually improves once the underlying cause heals, though short-term management is often needed for comfort and recovery.
- Chronic Pain
Pain lasting more than three months is considered chronic. It may continue even after the initial injury has healed and is often linked to long-term conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy or persistent back and neck pain. Because it can affect sleep, mood and daily function, ongoing and comprehensive management is important.
How Does a Pain Assessment Work
Pain specialists take a structured approach in assessing and diagnosing the type, source, mechanics and severity of pain:
- Medical History and Physical Exam: Doctors review when the pain started, its duration, intensity and triggers, along with any existing health conditions, medications or past treatments.
- Diagnostic Tests: Imaging such as X-rays or MRI scans, and nerve studies like electromyography, may be done to identify the source of pain.
- Pain Scales and Diaries: Patients may rate their pain or keep a daily log to track patterns and evaluate treatment progress.
Goals of Pain Management
The aim of pain management is designed around realistic and meaningful goals, such as:
- Reduce pain intensity so that daily activities are less restricted
- Improve physical function, including mobility, strength and endurance
- Support emotional well-being by addressing the mental health effects of pain
- Promote independence to allow patients to engage in work, family and social life
- Encourage long-term self-management through lifestyle changes and coping strategies
Effective Treatments for Pain Management
Effective pain management often involves a combination of therapies within a multidisciplinary plan. This approach focuses on achieving both immediate relief and long-term improvement. It also helps prevent pain from recurring in the future.
Medicinal Interventions
Different classes of medicines may be prescribed, depending on the type of pain:
- Non-opioid analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Adjuvant medications, including antidepressants and anticonvulsants
- Opioids may be considered in carefully monitored cases, particularly for cancer pain, though long-term use is approached cautiously due to dependence risks
Procedural & Interventional Treatments
When pain does not improve with conservative measures, minimally invasive techniques may be considered to address specific pain sources and promote recovery.
- Regenerative Therapy: This approach uses biologic methods, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cell techniques, to encourage tissue healing and reduce inflammation.
- Radiofrequency Treatment/Ablation (RFA): Using controlled heat energy, RFA targets and disrupts the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals, reducing or eliminating discomfort in the affected area.
- Sympathetic Nerve Blocks: The procedure involves injecting a local anaesthetic, sometimes combined with a steroid, near clusters of sympathetic nerves (ganglia). This temporarily interrupts the transmission of pain signals through these nerves. It is often used for conditions associated with the sympathetic nervous system.
- Annuloplasty (Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy/ID-ET): Annuloplasty is performed to address disc-related back pain believed to stem from small tears or fissures in the disc’s outer layer (annulus). During the procedure, controlled heat is applied within the disc to seal these tears, decrease nerve sensitivity, and help stabilise the affected area for pain relief.
- Nucleoplasty (Percutaneous Disc Decompression): This technique removes a small portion of the spinal disc’s inner core (nucleus) to relieve pressure on nearby nerves and ease pain.
- Trigger-point Injections: Targeted injections of local anaesthetic, with or without steroids, are administered into tight, painful muscle knots (trigger points) to relieve spasms, release tension and interrupt the pain cycle.
Lifestyle Modifications
Simple measures, such as regular exercise, weight management, balanced nutrition, stress reduction and adequate sleep, can help reduce pain and prevent flare-ups. Patients may be guided on posture, workplace ergonomics and pacing activities.
Outcome & Follow-Up
Pain management is a collaborative process between you and your doctor. While pain may not always be fully eliminated, it can often be reduced and controlled, allowing you to regain function, independence and confidence in daily life. Being an active participant in your treatment, practising healthy habits and maintaining open communication with your doctors are key to effective care.
If you or someone you know is struggling with ongoing pain, book an appointment with us . Our experienced pain specialist, Dr Thor Timothy, is committed to providing evidence-based care that addresses your unique needs and circumstances.
