What is a spine pain specialist?

A spine pain specialist diagnoses and treats pain that comes from the spine, from the neck down to the lower back. Dr Liu is a pain physician who uses medicines, exercise guidance and image-guided, minimally invasive procedures when they are likely to help.

How is a spine pain specialist different from a spine surgeon?

A spine pain specialist focuses on finding the source of spine pain and treating it with medicines, rehabilitation and minimally invasive procedures. A spine surgeon performs operations on the spine. Many people with spine pain never need an operation.

When should I see a spine pain specialist?

Consider an assessment if neck or back pain has lasted more than two weeks, keeps coming back, spreads into an arm or leg, or comes with tingling, numbness or weakness. Seek urgent medical care if you lose control of your bladder or bowels, have numbness between your legs, or have weakness that is getting worse quickly.

Do I need an MRI scan for spine pain?

Not always. Most back pain does not need a scan at first. Imaging is considered when symptoms persist, when there are warning signs such as leg weakness, or when the result would change your treatment.

Can spine pain be treated without surgery?

In most people, yes. Care usually starts with staying active, exercise and medicines, and may include injections or other minimally invasive procedures once the source of the pain has been identified. Surgery is generally kept for specific problems, such as significant nerve compression with worsening weakness.

Does insurance cover interventional pain treatments in Singapore?

Interventional pain procedures are covered by the Ministry of Health’s Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP). They are therefore reimbursable by all Integrated Shield Plans and most corporate insurance plans. However, it is advisable to obtain preauthorisation from your insurer before the procedure. Our clinic staff will guide you through this process.

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Headaches and facial pain

Headache specialist in Singapore: causes, tests and treatment

Headaches can come from many causes, and not every headache is a migraine. At Alleviate Pain Clinic, we help you work out the source of your headache and treat it, including with minimally invasive options such as nerve blocks and botulinum toxin injections.

At a glance

Common signsHeadaches that keep coming back or do not settle with painkillers, sometimes with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, neck stiffness or facial pain.

See a specialist ifHeadaches are frequent, painkillers are not helping, or they are affecting your work, sleep or family life.

What often helpsWorking out the type of headache, preventive medicines, nerve blocks and, for chronic migraine, botulinum toxin injections.

Our roleDr Liu is a pain physician. We help you find the source of your headache and treat it with minimally invasive options.

Visit usFarrer Park Hospital (Connexion), Singapore. Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–1pm, by appointment.

Written and reviewed by Dr Christopher Liu, Pain PhysicianLast reviewed: 4 November 2026About Dr Liu

What is a headache specialist?

A headache specialist is a doctor who focuses on finding why headaches happen and treating them. At Alleviate Pain Clinic, Dr Liu is a pain physician who sees people with migraine, headaches that start in the neck, facial pain and other recurring headaches. We take your history, examine you, and plan treatment that may include medicines, nerve blocks and botulinum toxin injections.

Types of headache we see

Headaches are not all the same, and the type decides the treatment. These are the main groups we see:

Migraines: recurring attacks, often throbbing and one-sided, with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Read about botulinum toxin for migraines and anti-CGRP therapy.
Low pressure headaches: headaches linked to low spinal fluid pressure, often worse when upright.
Trigeminal neuralgia: sudden, severe, electric-shock-like pain in the face. Gasserian ganglion RFA is one treatment option.
Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias: severe, one-sided headaches around the eye, such as cluster headache, often with eye or nose symptoms.
Headaches that start in the neck (cervicogenic headaches): read cervicogenic headaches versus migraines.

What causes headaches?

Some headaches are primary, which means the headache itself is the condition, as in migraine. Others are secondary, which means another problem is causing them, such as a problem in the neck, low spinal fluid pressure or an illness. In some people, stress, poor sleep, skipped meals and hormonal changes can bring on attacks. Working out which type you have is the first step, because the treatment differs. Read migraine versus other headaches.

When should you see a pain specialist?

A new headache, or a change in the pattern of your usual headaches, should be checked by a doctor first. Consider seeing a pain specialist if:

your headaches are frequent or getting worse
painkillers are not helping, or you need them often (frequent use can itself bring on headaches)
your headaches come with pain in the face
your headaches are affecting your work, sleep or family life

How are headaches diagnosed?

Diagnosis starts with your story and an examination. We ask about the pattern, length and frequency of your headaches, any warning signs or aura, what helps or makes them worse, and your family history, and we check your nervous system. A scan is not usually needed for typical migraine. It may be advised if your headaches are unusual or have changed, or if there are warning signs, to rule out other causes. Read when an MRI or CT scan is useful.

Treatment options

Treatment depends on the type of headache. Options include:

medicines to stop an attack, and preventive medicines when attacks are frequent
anti-CGRP injections, a newer class made for migraine prevention
botulinum toxin injections for chronic migraine, where headaches occur on 15 or more days a month
nerve blocks, with local anaesthetic placed near the nerves at the back or side of the head
radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia
everyday habits such as regular sleep and meals, enough water, exercise and stress management

Seek urgent medical care

Go to the nearest emergency department if you have a headache with:

a sudden, severe onset, the worst headache of your life
weakness, numbness on one side, confusion, or difficulty speaking or seeing
fever and a stiff neck, or a rash
a head injury, a seizure, or fainting

Dr Christopher Liu, Pain Physician

MOH accredited Pain Specialist and Medical Director of Alleviate Pain Clinic at Farrer Park Hospital. He completed an interventional pain fellowship at the University Health Network in Toronto and was previously a Senior Consultant in Pain Medicine at Singapore General Hospital.

Related conditions

MigrainesSymptoms, triggers and treatment Low pressure headachesHeadaches linked to low spinal fluid pressure Trigeminal neuralgiaSevere facial nerve pain Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgiasCluster-type headaches

Common questions

What is a headache specialist?

A headache specialist is a doctor who focuses on finding the cause of headaches and treating them. Dr Liu is a pain physician who uses medicines, nerve blocks and botulinum toxin injections when they are likely to help.

Is every headache a migraine?

No. Migraine is one common type. Other headaches come from the neck, from nerve conditions or from other causes, which is why a proper assessment matters.

Do I need a scan for my headaches?

Not usually for typical migraine. A scan may be advised if your headaches are unusual or have changed, or if there are warning signs.

Can botulinum toxin help headaches?

For chronic migraine, where headaches occur on 15 or more days a month, botulinum toxin injections around the head and neck are an established preventive treatment.

When should I seek urgent care for a headache?

Go to the nearest emergency department for a sudden, severe headache, or a headache with weakness, confusion, difficulty speaking or seeing, fever and a stiff neck, or after a head injury.

Where is the clinic?

Alleviate Pain Clinic is at Farrer Park Hospital (Connexion), 1 Farrer Park Station Road #08-14, Singapore 217562. Opening hours are Mon–Fri 9am–5pm and Sat 9am–1pm, by appointment.