Dr Nicholas Chua (Chua Hai Liang Nicholas) is a pain medicine and anaesthesiology specialist and Medical Director of Specialist Pain International Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical Centre. He graduated from the National University of Singapore, earned a Master of Medicine in Anaesthesiology, and completed advanced specialist training in anaesthesiology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
He holds a Fellowship of Interventional Pain Practice from the World Institute of Pain and a PhD from Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, where his research focused on chronic neck pain and cervicogenic headache. He has held leadership roles with the Pain Association of Singapore and served as the World Institute of Pain’s Director of Education for Asia.
Clinical focus
Neuropathic pain & cervicogenic headache.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MMed (Anaesthesiology), FIPP, PhD (Radboud University Medical Centre), Dipl. AAPM.
Where they practise
- Clinic / practice: Specialist Pain International Clinic (see our clinic listing) — Novena (Mount Elizabeth Novena)
- Hospital / training affiliation(s): Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Getting to the clinic
Dr Nicholas Chua sees patients at Specialist Pain International Clinic within Mount Elizabeth Novena, in Singapore’s Novena medical cluster. The nearest station is Novena MRT (NS20) on the North-South line, a short walk from the hospital and its specialist centre. Sheltered links and lifts connect the station area to the medical buildings, which is helpful if your pain makes longer walks uncomfortable. A number of bus services run along Thomson Road and the surrounding roads, and taxis or ride-hailing cars can set you down at the hospital entrance.
Mount Elizabeth Novena provides paid visitor parking in its basement carpark, with lift access to the specialist floors, so driving is practical if you are travelling from outside the central area or carrying scans and records. If walking is difficult on the day, the simplest approach is a taxi or private-hire drop-off at the main entrance, which avoids the walk from the train concourse. Allow a little extra time on weekday mornings, when the medical hub is busiest and the carpark fills more quickly.
What neuropathic pain and cervicogenic headache care covers
Dr Chua’s clinical focus is neuropathic pain and cervicogenic headache. Neuropathic pain arises when nerves themselves are damaged or behave abnormally, producing burning, shooting, tingling or electric-shock sensations, sometimes with numbness or heightened sensitivity. It can follow nerve injury, shingles, diabetes, surgery or spinal problems. Cervicogenic headache is head pain that actually originates from structures in the neck, so it often comes with neck stiffness and is felt at the back of the head spreading forward.
His PhD research focused on chronic neck pain and cervicogenic headache, and his work draws on interventional pain practice. Assessment aims to identify which nerves or neck structures are driving the symptoms, after which treatment may combine medication suited to nerve pain, physiotherapy, and image-guided procedures such as nerve blocks targeting specific pain pathways. Because these conditions can be persistent and complex, care is usually tailored to the individual and reviewed over time, with the aim of reducing pain, improving function and lowering the impact on sleep and daily life.
What to expect at a consultation
A first consultation centres on building a clear picture of your pain. Dr Chua will ask where and how the pain or headache occurs, what brings it on or eases it, how it affects sleep, concentration, mood and work, and what you have already tried. For headache and neck-related pain, the pattern and triggers are particularly important.
A focused examination of the neck, nerves and relevant areas follows. He may review existing scans or arrange further imaging or tests where these will change the plan. He will then explain the likely diagnosis and discuss options, which can range from medication and physiotherapy to targeted, image-guided injections or nerve blocks. You will be able to ask questions and weigh the benefits and limits of each option before deciding on a plan that suits you.
Preparing for your appointment
- Photo identification, and a GP or polyclinic referral letter if you have one.
- Previous scans, films or reports of the head and neck, and any nerve or blood test results.
- A full list of current medicines and supplements with doses, including anything tried for pain or headache.
- A written list of symptoms and the questions most important to you.
- A headache or pain diary noting frequency, triggers, timing and severity.
- Details of allergies, blood-thinning medication, and any past reactions to injections or anaesthetic.
After your consultation and follow-up
You should leave with an agreed plan and an understanding of the next steps. If injections or nerve blocks are recommended, the clinic will explain the timing, what is involved and any preparation. Results and progress are usually reviewed at follow-up visits, since neuropathic pain and cervicogenic headache are typically managed over weeks and months while treatment is adjusted to your response.
Keeping a simple record of how symptoms change between visits helps the specialist judge what is working. Raise any new or worsening symptoms promptly, and remember you are entitled to seek a second opinion. Seek urgent care for warning signs such as a sudden severe or unusual headache, headache with fever and neck stiffness, new weakness or numbness, visual disturbance, or symptoms following a head or neck injury.
Booking, referrals and fees
As a private specialist, Dr Chua can usually be seen without a formal referral, though a GP or polyclinic referral letter aids continuity and may be needed for subsidised care elsewhere. For eligible procedures, MediSave, MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan may help with costs within set limits, while consultation fees are generally paid out of pocket. Confirm charges, claim eligibility and coverage directly with the clinic before proceeding.
Common questions
How is cervicogenic headache different from migraine?
Cervicogenic headache originates from neck structures and often comes with neck stiffness, whereas migraine is a separate condition. Careful assessment helps distinguish them and guides treatment.
What does nerve pain feel like?
Neuropathic pain is often described as burning, shooting, tingling or electric-shock-like, sometimes with numbness or sensitivity to light touch.
Will I need injections?
Not necessarily. Image-guided injections or nerve blocks are one option, used where they fit your diagnosis, alongside medication and physiotherapy.
How long will treatment take?
Nerve-related pain and headache are usually managed over time. Some procedures help within days, while overall improvement is judged across several visits.
Related guides
Sources & verification
See also: our editorial directory of pain management specialists in Singapore and our shortlist of pain management clinics.
This is an independent, factual profile compiled from the public sources listed above — not a paid listing, advertisement or endorsement. Details can change; always verify a doctor’s current registration on the Singapore Medical Council public register and confirm specifics directly with the clinic. This page is general information, not medical advice or a recommendation of any individual practitioner. See our editorial policy.
Don’t agree with this listing? If this is your profile and you’d like the details corrected, updated or removed — or you’d like to be featured — please reach out to us or use our contact form. We’ll sort it out quickly.