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Chattanooga Center for Pain Medicine

Life Doesn't Have to Hurt!

Introduction

If you didn't know someone with a pain problem, you probably would not be looking at this brochure. Having pain frequently, or all the time, makes it hard to enjoy life and get things done. Long lasting pain is a problem.

What will happen when you come?

First – we will try to determine what is causing the pain. This is often not as easy as it may seem. However, like needing to know a destination when you drive a car, we need to know a diagnosis or pain source to treat you properly.

Second – In order to identify the pain source, additional testing may be required. Then a treatment plan specific to each patient is developed.

Third – Follow up care is key to the patient's progress, and mandatory in our office. We will not continue to treat you (or the person with pain) without knowing how you respond to treatment.

What kind of treatments are used?

We specialize in diagnostic and therapeutic injections.

Epidural steroid injections (all spine levels)
Foraminal or nerve root injections (all spine levels)
Sympathetic blocks
Discography (all spine levels)
Trigger Point Injections
Joint Injections
Facet Injections
Occipital Nerve Injections
Stellate Ganglion Injections
Celiac Plexus Injections
Hypogastric Injections
Nerve Root Injection
Vertebroplasty
Spinal Cord Stimulators
Management of long-acting narcotics, anti-depressants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

We strive to stay up-to-date with the rapidly expanding knowledge and technical skills of the pain medicine specialty.

How do I get an appointment?

It is best if you (or the patient) are referred by a doctor. It is easier for the staff at Chattanooga Center for Pain Medicine (CCPM) to communicate with that doctor to coordinate medical care. This is important and can improve treatment. The doctor's staff can call (756-7246) or fax (756-7247) a request to our office, and we will do the rest. Pain medicine is a new specialty. Therefore even excellent doctors do not think about referrals to pain medicine. You may suggest it. The Chattanooga Center for Pain Medicine does accept patients who call on their own.

Dr. Roger Catlin, M.D.
Board Certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology

What about medical insurance and payment for services?

Chattanooga Center for Pain Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. You may check with your insurance carrier to verify if we participate or ask one of our administrative office staff. Please note that co-pays and co-insurance are expected at the time of service.

What conditions are treated?

Pain related to cancer or treatment of cancer
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Lumbar spine pain including herniated disc and muscle strain
Neck (arthritis) and thoracic spine pain
Back and leg pain after spine surgery
Sciatica and damaged spinal nerve pain
Spinal stenosis
Sacroliliac (SI) and coccyx joint pain
Whiplash and degenerative disc disease
Costochondritis (rib pain)/chest wall pain
Pain of the face
Migraine and cluster headaches
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Pain from damaged nerves not of the spine
Multiple sclerosis pain
Pain after stroke or spinal cord injury
Shingles and post herpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles)
Pain due to neuropathy (diabetic neuropathy)
Angina (chest pain) from severe heart disease
Leg pain and skin lesions due to poor blood flow
Pain of pancreatitis and hepatitis, both acute attacks and chronic pain
Interstitial cystitis (urinary bladder) and the need to urinate frequently
Arthritis pain
Phantom limb pain (arm and leg) and stump pain
Pain after surgery including chest surgery

Often patients have spine related pain. We do all we can to help you avoid spine surgery. As you can see, we treat pains from causes all over the body.

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