Is SunCoast Pain Management, PA closed for the COVID-19 Crisis?

The Mississippi State Department of Health has allowed essential medical visits at this time. We will not see patients who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 over the last 14 days, quarantined due to COVID-19, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Please wear a mask at all times for your visit at our clinic. Though the statewide mandate to wear masks has been lifted, it has not been lifted for medical facilities.

How can I find out more information about COVID-19?

Please visit www.cdc.gov and msdh.ms.gov for more information. If you have fever of >100.4 F and/or cough, please contact your primary care provider for further instructions. Please call the Singing River Hospital System Hotline at (228) 809-5044 if you develop a fever and/or shortness of breath and are concerned about COVID-19.

How do I get an appointment?

Our clinic will evaluate patients by referral only. Have your medical provider send us all the records that would allow us to better care for you. Dr. Chen will personally review your medical records to determine if we can effectively assist you with your pain. We will not accept patients who have been discharged from other pain centers or in current treatment with another pain center.

What is causing my pain?

There are a number of conditions that could generate pain such as poor body mechanics, injuries, disc problems, nerve damage, prior surgeries, and even cancer to name a few. Our team will first determine the appropriate diagnosis through reviewing what treatments have already been done before formulating a plan of care.

What treatments does your clinic offer?

There are many options that are available to treat your pain from recognizing harmful body mechanics, using over-the-counter medications, prescribed medications, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, injections, radiofrequency ablations, implanted medical devices, or combinations of treatments.

Will I be 100% pain free?

Our ideal goal is for you to be 100% pain free but realistically, most patients find their pain will be decreased enough to improve their quality of life.

Should I go see a surgeon first to see if I need surgery?

The vast majority of patients will not require surgery for their pain condition. We have found that if we can treat the patient early in their pain cycle, the success rate for 100% relief is much greater for these patients. We will be able to assist you in finding an appropriate surgeon if conservative measures are ineffective.

Do I need opioids to treat my pain?

The use of opioids to help manage your pain will be of last resort. Not everyone is able to effectively decrease their pain utilizing opioid therapy. There are great risks with utilizing opioids to treat pain as brought to light in the news with the "Opioid Crisis". If our team determines that opioid therapy is to be used then government regulations require narcotic agreements, regular pharmacy checks, pill counts, and urine drug screens. Unfortunately, a few bad people have made it difficult for others to receive appropriate care without feeling like they are being perceived as a "drug abuser". Our goal is to utilize other effective therapies to help manage your pain and avoid opioids or opioid dose escalation as much as possible.

What is the difference between pain management and interventional pain management?

Medical physicians use minimally invasive medical procedures to interrupt the nervous system's transmission of the pain-filled messages from the nerve endings to the brain. In the case of chronic or severe pain, interventional pain management seeks to disrupt the pain cycle.

What is a neurostimulator or spinal cord stimulator?

Spinal cord stimulators are implanted devices that send out high frequency electrical impulses to the spine to block the pain signals to your brain. The feeling of light stimulation to the large nerves for touch will override the pain signals from the much smaller nerves of pain.

Does insurance cover the procedures?

Most interventional pain procedures are covered by insurance. Some insurances do require pre-certification in order to schedule the procedure. This may require some time to get the procedures approved, so the procedure may not be scheduled immediately.

Where are my procedures performed?

We perform the majority of our procedures at the listed facilities on our web page. The patient can request which center they want to have their procedures performed. The cost can vary for the patient at each center based on the patient's insurance plan. We offer IV conscious sedation for the procedures as necessary but it is not required by the patient.

FAQ