Pain Has a Story. Are You Listening?

Unpacking the causes, assessments, and management strategies that help you regain control 

Pain is more than just discomfort, it can affect your daily life, mobility, and overall well-being. Whether it's chronic pain, nerve pain, or unexplained discomfort, identifying the root cause is crucial for effective treatment. At Singapore Brain Spine Centre, Dr. Prem Pillay, a Senior Neurosurgeon and Pain Specialist, offers expert pain assessment and advanced non-surgical treatments to help patients regain control over their lives.

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An Expert in Identifying the Root Causes of Pain and Treating with Less Invasive, Non-Surgical Methods

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Chronic pain is defined as pain persisting for more than 3 months. It can be classified into:

• Nociceptive pain

  Linked with an external stimulus.

  
  

• Neuropathic pain

  Caused by nerve damage, occurring even without ongoing tissue damage.

Pain Terminology & Definitions

• Allodynia

  Discomfort due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain.

  
  

• Analgesia

  Absence of discomfort in response to a normally painful stimulus

  
  

• Anaesthesia Dolorosa

  Pain in an area that is anesthetic.

  
  

• Causalgia

  A syndrome of burning discomfort following nerve trauma, often with vasomotor dysfunction.

  
  

• Central Pain

  Pain caused by a lesion or dysfunction in the central nervous system.

  
  

• Dysesthesia

  An unpleasant abnormal sensation.

  
  

• Hyperalgesia

  Increased response to a normally painful stimulus.

  
  

• Hypoalgesia

  Diminished pain response to a normally painful stimulus.

  
  

• Neuralgia

  Pain along a nerve’s distribution.

  
  

• Neuritis

  Inflammation of nerves

  
  

• Neuropathy

  Dysfunction or damage in a nerve (mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, etc.).

  
  

• Nociceptor 

  A receptor sensitive to painful stimuli.

  
  

• Paresthesia 

  Abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness.

Common Pain Problems

Headaches

Can be caused by:

• Muscle tension

• Migraine

• Neck problems (cervical disc prolapses)

• Less commonly, strokes, brain tumors, and head injuries

  
  

Face Pain

Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs due to pressure on the Vth Cranial nerve near the brainstem, often from an abnormally positioned blood vessel. In rare cases, tumors or arteriovenous malformations can be responsible.

Neck and Back Pain

Caused by:

• Slipped discs or herniated discs

• Spine tumors and spine infections

• Facet joint degeneration and bony spurs

• Degenerating discs producing inflammatory chemicals

• Spinal instability due to degeneration or injury

  
  

Sciatica

Pain radiating down a leg, often caused by nerve root compression from a slipped disc.

Hand Pain

Results from:

• Herniated discs in the neck

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve compression at the wrist)

• Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve compression at the elbow)

  
  

Other Pain Syndromes

• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

• Fibromyalgia

• Amputation/phantom pain

• Post-herpetic neuralgia

• Brachial/lumbar plexus avulsion pain

• T2 syndrome

Pain Diagnosis – Finding the Root Cause

It is essential to identify the root cause of pain rather than just treating symptoms. Delays in diagnosis can lead to nerve damage, weakness, or even paralysis.

A detailed clinical and neurological examination by a Neurosurgeon and Pain Specialist is necessary. Appropriate diagnostic tests may include:

• X-rays of the spine and/or limbs

• MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the spine, nerves, or brain)

• Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyography (EMG)

• Blood tests (biomarkers for inflammation, infection, or cancer)

• CT scan (Computed Tomography of painful areas)

  
  

Once the pain source is identified, minimally invasive treatments such as advanced pain management techniques or day procedures can be planned.

Advanced Pain Management & Non-Surgical Treatments

Dr. Prem Pillay is a leading Neurosurgeon and Pain Specialist at Singapore Brain Spine Centre, offering:

• Pain relief treatments tailored to each patient

• Minimally invasive pain procedures for nerve pain, chronic pain, and neuropathy

• Cutting-edge medical imaging (MRI, CT scans, X-rays) for precise diagnosis

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Break Free from Chronic Pain – Take the First Step Today

If you or a loved one is suffering from chronic pain, you don’t have to endure it alone. Identifying the root cause early can prevent further nerve damage and long-term complications.

📞 Don’t let pain control your life – book a consultation today and take the first step toward lasting relief.