Dr. Balaji Charlu, MD

Since my epidural I can do my daily choirs with no pain. I am very happy with the procedure.

I made appointment with Dr. Charlu, three months before my visit. I drove forty five minutes to visit him. On the day of visit, his office staff told me they were not contracted with my insurance company; I had called my ins and my ins. co. told me they were contracted, and the office also had told me they were contracted with my ins. co. After they told me they were not contracted with my ins. co., they called someone, and that person said they were contracted, but I have to sign a document that if ins. did not pay, I have to pay for the visit. I asked why? She said their on-line site that they have to verify my insurance, is down, and they cannot verify my insurance. I asked them to call my ins. co. and they said they could not. They have to verify on-line; that is their policy. I returned home, frustrated.Isn't doctor's office supposed to verify patients' insurance few days ahead of the visit? Why could they not call insurance company?

Epidural went great. Excellent!! No pain whatsoever!!

Outstanding. The pain management program has totally handled my significant pain from stenosis. He also diagnosed an issue I was having that is outside his domain and followed up to ensure I was able to get an appointment with the specialist and actually had the appointment moved from March 2023 to Dec 2022. Life saver.

Went to him for a pinched nerve issue. First, I was made to wait literally an hour and a half. When he finally came in, he seemed to be in a big rush, kept looking at the computer and not at me. He obviously was looking at my charts and MRI for the first time. Then he for all practical purposes asked 'me' what kind of pain medication I would like and/or if I would like to get an epidural injection. Guess he is the doctor, should he not suggest? Later I realized that the dose of the nerve med he finally gave me was so low that the next Pain Med doctor I went to had to increase it literally 9-fold. While leaving, I asked him if the 90-minute wait was what I should expect in future visits, he simply said he was super busy and yes, I should expect a wait. No sorry, no table manners, nothing. Never going back to him for sure. Very poor experience on all fronts.

Dr. Charlu and staff are very efficient. Very pleasant doctor. Great bedside manner. Made me feel very comfortable. Checked in with me daily after my injection to see how I was feeling. Would recommend him highly.

Easy, efficient and personable staff that helps patients feel comfortable. Dr. Charlu is recommended for his expertise in this field of pain management.

I had consultations and procedures done in my neck by this md but he is not a good medical professional. He is arrogant and he lacks empathy. Last after procedure consultation was awful. He never looked at me, he was always looking at the computer and it seemed that he was not listening. The procedures he did were unsuccessful ones and he just told me to take pain killers over the counter

I have seen Dr. Charlu on several occasions. It has never been easy to talk with him, it always seems like he is talking at you not with you. The office never returns calls, problems with prescription refills, problems with general follow up.

If you don't fit the cookie cutter type pain, don't go to Dr Charlu. He has been good in the past for 1 time visits, when it comes to long time pain control, find another Pain management doctor. He lacks Candor, and does not explain criteria very well. And again when you need a doctor you can trust for long term pain DON'T go see Dr Charlu. Randall Miller

I have seen Dr Charlu for injections for pain management - before hip replacement in 2016 - and following torn rotator cuff and bicep tendinitis in 2018. After a fall on that should I once again requested his services for an injection. He is very pleasant physician, explaining the procedure as he goes. He is very reassuring of his procedure - which was/is very effective. All in all the staffing of NOI is exceptional.

I have been seeing Dr. Charlu, his Assistants Lindsay (PA) and Carlos (epidurals) for about 6 months for a fairly large synovial cyst and a bulging disc at L4-L5. They were spot on with their approach and treatment plan and they got the diagnosis right away and gave me good information on an expected treatment plan. They walked me through the epidurals with no problems and when it was time to have that discussion about surgery they sent me to a good spine surgeon. Dr. Charlu suggested I get a second and even third opinion and he gave me the names of some excellent physicians in the area. Foe me, it was easy to make appointments, the epidurals were done with precision and care and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. It is a busy office but they kept my medical care personal and I never felt rushed. All my questions were answered by Lindsay or Dr. Charlu. I relieved great care and would go back if I ever needed additional procedure.

I initially went to a pain doctor in Mission Viejo for a sacroiliac joint injection and it was an excruciating experience. Since then, I have been to Dr. Charlu 3-4 times for the same procedure. While injections are never a pleasant thing to look forward to, I never walk out of Dr. Charlu's office feeling like the experience was painful. He will slowly numb the area and slowly introduce some lidocaine to make the steroid injection less painful. Given that I'm always apprehensive, my standard joke is "Don't be stingy with the lidocaine." No matter what, Dr. Charlu takes his time, talks to patients to put them at ease, mentions what is going on at various steps ("a little pinch now," a "little pressure for 10 seconds," etc). During office visits, Dr. Charlu is a fast talker so be prepared to interject with questions if you feel that you need to make good use of your time.

Dr. Charlu is the best of the best. He talks with you and not to you. He discusses your problem and works with you to find the best solution. He is also my Pain Management Doctor. He has worked with me thru different orthopedic procedures. I cannot say enough positive things about him or his office staff. I have always and will continue to highly recommend Dr. Charlu. Thank you.

I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in 2015 and my GP sent me to Balaji Charlu who was supposed to be an expert in Back, Spine & Neck. MRI showed a 9 mm herniated disc (lumbar) that was unfortunately symptomatic and was causing pain, discomfort, and sciatica in my left leg. He pushed to get surgery when a surgery was not necessary and I am currently pain free with no injection or surgery thanks to other doctors who helped me heal. Avoid Balaji Charlu