Sundaram Chettiar, MD in Baltimore: Interventional Pain Management with a Physiatry Foundation

Sundaram Chettiar, MD operates as an interventional pain management specialist in Baltimore, drawing on training in physical medicine and rehabilitation to address chronic pain through both procedural and non-procedural methods. Unlike pain practices that rely primarily on medications or physical therapy alone, Chettiar's scope combines image-guided injections, regenerative medicine techniques, and conservative care planning, positioning him as a referral destination for patients whose pain has either resisted standard treatment or requires diagnostic precision before escalating to surgery.

What Sundaram Chettiar, MD actually is

Chettiar is a board-certified physiatrist with additional fellowship training in interventional pain management. His practice treats patients with spine pain (neck and lower back), joint arthritis, neuropathic conditions, and post-surgical pain. The physiatry foundation means he can evaluate whether a patient's pain is mechanical, neurological, or structural, and design a pathway that may include physical therapy, medication optimization, lifestyle modification, and procedural intervention. This differs from orthopedic surgeons who often steer toward surgical repair and from neurologists who focus on medication-based nerve disease management.

Services and pricing

Chettiar offers several categories of intervention. Epidural steroid injections for spine pain, facet joint injections for localized back or neck arthritis, and peripheral nerve blocks for limb pain are common procedural options. Many Baltimore insurers, including Medicare, Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, and United, cover these procedures when medically necessary, though coverage depends on diagnosis and imaging findings. Out-of-pocket costs for self-pay patients typically range from $800 to $2,000 per procedure; verify your insurance coverage and the office's handling of your specific plan before your appointment.

Beyond injections, the practice often incorporates platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and prolotherapy, which stimulate the body's own healing response in tendons, ligaments, and small joints. These regenerative techniques are less commonly covered by insurance and generally cost $500 to $1,500 per session, depending on the area treated and the specific protocol. Consultation visits for diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning run standard specialist rates and are covered by most insurance plans with a copay or coinsurance.

How Chettiar compares to other Baltimore pain management options

Baltimore has several pain management pathways. University of Maryland Medical Center's pain clinic offers comprehensive interventional services but operates within a hospital system with longer scheduling lead times and higher facility fees tied to outpatient surgical center billing. Sinai Hospital (part of LifeBridge Health) similarly maintains a structured interventional pain program; both are well-resourced but may require 4 to 8 weeks for a first appointment.

Private practices like Chettiar's typically offer faster access, 2 to 3 weeks in most cases, and lower facility overhead, meaning the cost difference between a private practice injection and a hospital-based one can be 20 to 30 percent. If you need urgent pain control, private interventional pain practices in Baltimore are more likely to fit you in within days. If you require advanced imaging (MRI, CT) on site or coordination with surgical backup, a hospital-based center may be appropriate.

Primary care and physical medicine practices in Baltimore (such as those at Johns Hopkins or MedStar) can manage mild to moderate pain without procedures, but they do not perform injections in office. Orthopedic surgeons address structural damage but are more likely to recommend surgery; Chettiar's role is often to exhaust non-surgical and less-invasive options first, delaying or eliminating the need for surgery.

Who this service suits and who it does not suit

Chettiar's practice is best for patients with diagnosed pain conditions (confirmed by imaging or clinical exam), prior failed conservative treatment, or pain that responds incompletely to medications. If you have chronic lower back pain with facet arthritis, a herniated disc without neurological deficits, osteoarthritis of the knee or shoulder, or neuropathic pain in a limb, you are a candidate for evaluation.

It is not suitable as a first stop for new, undifferentiated pain; you will typically need imaging and a primary care or specialist assessment first. Patients seeking only medication management or those unwilling to consider procedures should see a pain medicine physician in a medical (non-interventional) setting or their primary care doctor. Chettiar also does not perform spinal fusion or other surgical procedures; if imaging shows structural instability or severe stenosis requiring decompression, he will refer you to a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon.

What the first visit involves

You will meet with Chettiar for a 30 to 45 minute consultation. He will review your pain history, prior imaging and treatments, medications, and functional limitations. A focused physical examination follows, often including range of motion testing, strength grading, and special tests designed to identify the pain generator. Expect him to ask about your goals; some patients want to resume activity, others seek pain reduction alone, and others hope to avoid surgery.

If a procedure is indicated, he will typically explain the anatomy, the injection target, imaging (ultrasound or fluoroscopy) guidance method, risks, and expected timeline for benefit. Many procedures can be scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks. If additional imaging is needed or the diagnosis is unclear, he may recommend an MRI or refer back to your primary care doctor before proceeding.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Chettiar's practice operates Monday through Friday, typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; verify current hours and any holiday closures by calling ahead. Parking information depends on office location; confirm whether street parking, a lot, or validated parking is available. Procedures may require a driver because sedation is sometimes used; plan for 2 to 3 hours from check-in to discharge. Bring your insurance card and a list of current medications.

Why this place matters in Baltimore's pain landscape

Chettiar fills a gap between primary care and surgery. For a city with significant traffic congestion and aging population, having an interventional pain specialist who combines physical medicine expertise with same-day diagnostic ultrasound and procedural capability shortens the path from diagnosis to relief and reduces unnecessary surgery referrals. His physiatry training means non-surgical optimization is not an afterthought but the foundation of care.