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Balaji S. Charlu, M.D.

About Dr. Balaji S. Charlu

Dr. Bobby S. Charlu is an Interventional Physiatrist who specializes in the non-surgical care of musculoskeletal and spine related disorders. Growing up in Michigan, Dr. Charlu was an avid tennis and soccer player. This love of sports drew him to pursue sports and musculoskeletal medicine when choosing his medical specialty.

“Physiatrists are experts in the rehabilitation of nerve, muscle, and bone injury. Treating injury, improving pain, and enhancing performance is the cornerstone of changing our daily movement and function. My goal is to offer any and all minimally invasive treatments to the sports and spine related pain outside of surgery.”

In addition to performing basic spinal therapy and diagnostic procedures, Dr. Charlu brings a variety of advanced pain management therapies to Hoag Orthopedic Institute including radiofrequency ablation, discography, percutaneous discectomy, spinal cord neuromodulation, and regenerative PRP. He is currently active in Interventional Spine research, and is a teaching faculty member of the North American Spine Society.

Dr. Charlu is Board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) with sub-specialty Boards in Pain Management and Sports Medicine. Dr. Charlu attended Michigan State medical school and completed his residency in PM&R at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas where he was Chief resident. He completed his fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2006.

In his spare time, Dr. Charlu enjoys spending time with his wife and three children in Irvine in addition to his active participation in sports including tennis, running, biking and triathlons.

Dr. Charlu also enjoys giving back to the community by serving as the team doctor for the University High School football team in Irvine.

Insurances Accepted

Please verify with your health plan and/or physician’s office.

  • Aetna PPO
  • Beech Street PPO
  • Blue Cross Prudent Buyer PPO
  • Blue Shield PPO
  • CIGNA PPO
  • Coventry/First Health
  • Health Net PPO
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan/PHCS
  • United Healthcare PPO

For HMO plan participation please call the physician's office.

Affiliations HOI Surgery Center - Newport Beach
Education Medical Education - Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (Medical Doctor)
Internship - University of Medicine/Dentistryof New Jersey (Internal Medicine)
Residency - Baylor College of Medicine - Houston (Physical Medicine/Rehab)
Fellowship - University of Michigan Hospitals (Pain Management)
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehab
  • Pain Medicine
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • American Board of physcial medicine and rehabiliat
  • Sports Medicine
Conditions Treated
  • Slipped Disc (Spine & Neck)
  • Strained Hip (Hip)
  • MCL Injury / Medial Collateral Ligament (Sports Medicine)
  • Spinal Stenosis (Spine & Neck)
  • Spinal Stenosis (Pain Management)
  • Spondylolysis (Spine & Neck)
  • Hip Pain (Hip)
  • Osteoporosis (Hip)
  • Shin Splints (Sports Medicine)
  • PCL Injury / Posterior Cruciate Ligament (Sports Medicine)
  • Peripheral Neuropathy (Spine & Neck)
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome / Nerve Dysfunction (Spine & Neck)
  • Herniated Disc (Pain Management)
  • Post-Laminectomy Syndrome (Spine & Neck)
  • Cervical Fracture (Spine & Neck)
  • Kyphosis (Spine & Neck)
  • Spinal Deformities (Spine & Neck)
  • Sprains and Strains (Sports Medicine)
  • Scoliosis (Spine & Neck)
  • Disc, Facet and Nerve Root Pain (Pain Management)
  • Facet Joint Syndrome (Spine & Neck)
  • Osteoarthritis (Pain Management)
  • Spondylolysis (Pain Management)
  • Golfer's Elbow (Sports Medicine)
  • Chronic Pain (Pain Management)
  • Whiplash (Spine & Neck)
  • Degenerative Joint Disease of the Hip (Hip)
  • Sports Hernia (Hip)
  • Sciatica (Pain Management)
  • Degenerative Disc Disease (Spine & Neck)
  • Hip Impingement (Hip)
  • Neck Pain (Pain Management)
  • Spondylolisthesis (Spine & Neck)
  • SI Joint Pain / Sacroiliac Joint Pain (Spine & Neck)
  • Hip Arthritis (Hip)
  • Piriformis Syndrome (Pain Management)
  • Labral Tear of the Hip or Shoulder (Sports Medicine)
  • Failed Laminectomy Syndrome (Pain Management)
  • Degenerative Disc Disease (Pain Management)
  • LCL Injury / Lateral Collateral Ligament (Sports Medicine)
  • Femoral Acetabular Impingement (Hip)
  • Tennis Elbow (Sports Medicine)
  • Musculoskeletal and Myofascial Pain (Pain Management)
  • Degenerative Back and Neck Disorders (Spine & Neck)
  • Osteoporosis (Spine & Neck)
  • Sciatica (Spine & Neck)
  • Patellar Tendonitis / Patella Tendonitis (Sports Medicine)
  • Cervical Radiculopathy (Pain Management)
  • Osteoarthritis of the HIp / Hip Osteoarthritis (Hip)
  • Facet Joint Arthritis (Pain Management)
  • Sciatica (Hip)
  • SI Joint Dysfunction / Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (Pain Management)
  • Herniated Disc (Spine & Neck)
  • Joint Pain (Hip)
  • Ruptured Disc (Spine & Neck)
  • Synovitis of the Hip (Hip)
  • Hamstring Strain (Sports Medicine)
  • Hip Sprain (Hip)
  • Radiculopathy (Pain Management)
  • Compression Fracture from Osteoporosis (Spine & Neck)
  • Peripheral Neuropathy / Peripheral Nerve Disorders (Pain Management)
  • Neuropathic Pain (Spine & Neck)
  • Bursitis of the Hip / Hip Bursitis / Trochanteric Bursitis (Hip)
  • Cervical Stenosis (Spine & Neck)
  • Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) (Spine & Neck)
  • Arthritis (Spine & Neck)
  • Synovitis (Sports Medicine)
  • Hip Dysplasia (Hip)
  • Facet Joint Pain (Pain Management)
  • Lumbar Radiculopathy (Pain Management)
  • Labrum Tear (Hip)
  • Snapping Hip (Hip)
  • Bicep Tendon Rupture (Sports Medicine)
  • Meniscus Tear / Meniscal Tear (Sports Medicine)
  • Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) (Pain Management)
  • Muscle Strain (Spine & Neck)
  • Neck Sprain (Spine & Neck)
  • Sports Concusion (Sports Medicine)
  • Groin Pain (Hip)
  • SI Joint Pain / Sacroiliac Joint Pain (Hip)
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine / Spine Osteoarthritis (Spine & Neck)
  • Runner's Knee / Chondromalacia Patella (Sports Medicine)
  • Piriformis Syndrome (Spine & Neck)
  • IT Band Syndrome / Iliotibial Band Syndrome (Hip)
  • Radiculopathy / Pinched Nerve (Spine & Neck)
  • Bulging Disc (Spine & Neck)
  • SLAP Lesion Tear (Sports Medicine)
  • Back Pain (Spine & Neck)
  • Failed Laminectomy Syndrome (Spine & Neck)
  • Low Back Pain (Pain Management)
  • Thoracic Conditions (Spine & Neck)
  • UCL Tear / Ulnar Collateral Ligament Tear (Sports Medicine)
  • Spondylolisthesis (Pain Management)
Procedures
  • Cervical Rehabilitation
  • Facet Medial Branch Rhizotomy
  • Functional Restoration
  • Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine
  • Lumbar Rehabilitation
  • Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Spinal Cord Neuromodulation / Stimulation
  • Spine Rehabilitation