Q1: What services does a back pain clinic provide?
A back pain clinic offers comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for acute and chronic back pain. Services include:

• Detailed physical examination and pain assessment

• Imaging referrals such as X-ray, CT, and MRI

• Non-surgical treatments including physiotherapy, hot therapy, traction, and guided exercises

• Pain management strategies to restore function and mobility

Q2: When should I visit a back pain clinic?
You should consider visiting a back pain clinic if:

• Pain persists despite rest, physiotherapy, or medication

• You have leg numbness, tingling, or weakness (sciatica)

• Pain limits work, sports, or daily activities

• You have recurrent or worsening back pain after injury

Early assessment prevents chronic issues, improves recovery, and helps avoid unnecessary treatments or surgery.

Q3: Why is MRI important at a back pain clinic?
MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of discs, nerves, spinal cord, ligaments, and vertebrae. It helps:

• Confirm suspected disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or nerve compression

• Guide non-surgical treatment plans

• Avoid misdiagnosis and wasted time on ineffective therapies

Other imaging like X-ray or CT cannot reliably detect soft tissue or nerve issues.

Q4: How is treatment managed at a back pain clinic?
Treatment is typically non-surgical first, including:

• Physiotherapy and guided exercises

• Hot therapy, traction, or ultrasound therapy

• Pain relief medications and anti-inflammatories

• Lifestyle and ergonomic advice

MRI findings help tailor treatments to the exact cause of pain, improving outcomes and preventing chronic disability.

Q5: Where can I get a fast, affordable MRI for back pain in Singapore?
The Pain Relief Clinic provides insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day. Coupled with non-surgical therapies, this ensures safe, effective relief, quicker recovery, and a return to work, sports, and daily life.

Q1: What is a slip disc, and what causes it?
A slip disc, also called a herniated or prolapsed disc, occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through the outer layer, irritating nearby nerves. Causes include heavy lifting, poor posture, aging, trauma, or repetitive strain. Symptoms may include localized back pain, sciatica (leg pain), numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Q2: What are the main treatment options for a slip disc?
Non-surgical treatments typically include:

• Physiotherapy and guided exercises to strengthen core muscles

• Hot therapy or traction to relieve pressure and stiffness

• Pain medications or anti-inflammatories for temporary relief

• Lifestyle modifications such as ergonomics and posture correction

Surgery is reserved for severe cases with persistent pain or nerve compression.

Q3: When should I consider getting an MRI for a slip disc?
MRI is recommended if:

• Pain persists beyond a few weeks despite therapy

• There is numbness, tingling, or weakness in legs or arms

• Loss of bladder or bowel control occurs (urgent red flag)

• Pain is limiting work, sports, or daily activities

MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of discs, nerves, ligaments, and vertebrae, helping confirm diagnosis and guide safe treatment.

Q4: Why is MRI better than X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for a slip disc?

• X-rays: Show only bone alignment, missing disc or nerve issues.

• CT scans: Limited for soft tissue and disc herniation.

• Ultrasound: Cannot image deep spinal structures.

MRI is superior because it clearly visualizes discs, nerves, spinal cord, ligaments, and surrounding structures without radiation exposure.

Q5: Where can I get a fast and affordable MRI for slip disc in Singapore?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day. Combined with non-surgical treatments such as physiotherapy, hot therapy, and guided exercises, this ensures safe, effective relief and faster return to work, sports, and daily life.

Q1: What is frozen shoulder, and what causes it?
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition where the shoulder joint becomes stiff and painful, limiting movement. It may result from injury, prolonged immobility, diabetes, or inflammation. Symptoms include difficulty lifting the arm, reaching behind the back, or performing daily tasks.

Q2: What are the main treatment options for frozen shoulder?
Treatment typically includes:

• Physiotherapy and guided exercises to improve mobility

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief

• Hot therapy or ultrasound therapy to reduce stiffness

• Corticosteroid injections in some cases

These methods aim to reduce pain, restore range of motion, and avoid surgery.

Q3: When should I consider getting an MRI for frozen shoulder?
MRI is recommended if:

• Pain persists despite several weeks of therapy

• Movement is severely restricted

• There is suspicion of underlying rotator cuff tears, tendon injury, or labral damage

MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and shoulder structures, confirming diagnosis and guiding targeted treatment.

Q4: Why not rely solely on X-ray, CT, or ultrasound?

• X-rays: Show only bone structure, missing soft tissue problems.

• CT scans: Limited for tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

• Ultrasound: May miss deep rotator cuff or labral injuries.

MRI is superior because it offers comprehensive imaging of all shoulder structures without radiation, ensuring precise diagnosis.

Q5: Where can I get a fast and affordable MRI for frozen shoulder in Singapore?
The Pain Relief Clinic provides insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day. Combined with non-surgical therapies like guided exercises, hot therapy, and physiotherapy, this approach helps restore shoulder mobility safely and effectively.

Q1: When should I consider getting an MRI for neck pain?
MRI is recommended if you experience:

• Persistent neck pain not responding to physiotherapy or medication

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or hands

• Pain limiting work, sports, or daily activities

MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of cervical discs, spinal cord, nerves, ligaments, and bones, revealing causes such as disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or ligament injury that X-rays cannot detect.

Q2: When should I consider MRI for back pain?
Back pain that persists despite conservative treatments, or is accompanied by:

• Sciatica or leg weakness

• Loss of bladder or bowel control (red flag)

• Severe pain affecting work or hobbies

MRI allows detailed visualization of discs, nerve roots, ligaments, and vertebrae. It is superior to X-rays, CT, and ultrasound because it shows soft tissue and nerve involvement clearly.

Q3: Why is MRI important for shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain may result from:

• Rotator cuff or tendon tears

• Ligament injuries

• Labral or cartilage damage

Physical exams or X-rays often miss soft tissue injuries. MRI provides comprehensive, radiation-free imaging, ensuring accurate diagnosis and preventing prolonged dysfunction. Early MRI is crucial if pain limits sports, work, or daily activities.

Q4: When should I get an MRI for knee pain?
Knee pain, especially when associated with:

• Swelling, instability, locking, or catching

• Persistent pain despite therapy

• Sports or trauma-related injury

MRI detects ligament tears (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL), meniscus injuries, cartilage damage, and early osteoarthritis. It is far superior to X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for soft tissue and internal knee structures.

Q5: Where can I get fast, affordable MRI for these musculoskeletal issues in Singapore?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day. Non-surgical treatments are available alongside MRI, helping restore function and relieve pain safely, efficiently, and without unnecessary delays.

Q1: What is sciatica and what causes it?
Sciatica is pain, tingling, or numbness radiating from the lower back down the leg, usually caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Common causes include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or degenerative changes in the spine.

Q2: Can exercises, physiotherapy, or medications relieve sciatica without imaging?
These treatments may temporarily reduce pain and improve mobility, but they cannot confirm the underlying cause. Without MRI, serious issues such as disc herniation or nerve compression may go undiagnosed, delaying proper treatment and risking worsening symptoms.

Q3: When should I get an MRI for sciatica?
Consider MRI if you have:

• Persistent pain beyond a few weeks

• Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg

• Loss of bladder or bowel control (urgent red flag)

• Pain limiting work, sports, or daily activities

MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of discs, nerves, ligaments, and vertebrae, identifying the exact cause and guiding treatment.

Q4: Why is MRI better than X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for sciatica?

• X-rays: Only show bone alignment, not soft tissue or nerve compression.

• CT scans: Good for bones but limited for discs and nerve roots.

• Ultrasound: Cannot visualize deep spinal structures.

MRI is superior because it shows all spinal structures clearly and safely, without radiation.

Q5: Where can I get a fast and affordable MRI for sciatica in Singapore?
The Pain Relief Clinic provides insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day. Combined with non-surgical treatments like hot therapy, guided exercises, and physiotherapy, this ensures safe, effective relief and a faster return to normal activities.