Getting to Baltimore for Nerve Decompression Surgery: What to Know Before You Go

Key Takeaways

Peripheral nerve surgery is a highly specialized field. Many patients travel to see Dr. Eric H. Williams, whose office is located in Towson, just north of Baltimore, precisely because local providers have not been able to identify the source of the problem or do not have the training to address the problem that they have identified that is causing their source of chronic neuropathic pain.  The process begins remotely with a patient intake form and a gathering of relevant medical information that Dr. Williams reviews personally. This step helps Dr. Williams as well as the patient better determine whether the expense and effort of travel makes sense before making any plans. If a decision to move forward with a surgical procedure is made after your consultation, you will need to plan your return trip carefully.  

You've tried the medications. You've attended the appointments. You've done everything your doctors suggested, and still the pain remains. Maybe it burns. Maybe it shoots through your foot like electricity. Maybe it is so hypersensitive that you can hardly touch the skin.  Maybe it's so constant that you've quietly started to wonder if this is just your life now.

You're not alone in making the decision to travel for care when local options haven't provided answers. Many patients who visit Dr. Eric H. Williams—whose practice is located in Towson, just outside Baltimore—have come from across the country and in some cases, from other countries.

Dr. Williams is a peripheral nerve surgeon who trained under A. Lee Dellon, MD, PhD, one of the most recognized figures in the field. His practice at The Dellon Institute for Peripheral Nerve Surgery focuses on surgical solutions for patients whose chronic neuropathic pain has not responded to standard care. If you're thinking about making the trip, this guide walks you through what that process actually looks like—from your first contact with the office to the weeks after your procedure.

Understanding Why Patients Travel for Peripheral Nerve Surgery

Peripheral nerve surgery is a narrow field. Most medical specialties touch on nerves as part of a broader focus, but few surgeons concentrate their entire practice on identifying and surgically addressing nerve compressions, injuries, and entrapments.

This creates a gap. Patients with chronic nerve pain in the lower extremity, upper extremity, or trunk are often seen by multiple providers—primary care physicians, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, pain management teams—sometimes without receiving a diagnosis for the problem or an effective treatment for a known diagnosis.  The pain is acknowledged, but the underlying cause may not be addressed or effectively treated.

Medication can reduce the intensity of the pain. For some patients, that's a meaningful form of relief. But medications don't change what's happening to the nerve itself. If a patient has a nerve compression as a source of the pain, the nerve remains compressed whether or not you're taking medication to dull the signal it's sending. Over time, a compressed nerve that isn't treated can continue to deteriorate.

Surgical nerve decompression works by releasing the structures—tendons, ligaments, fibrous bands, fascia, scar tissue—that are pressing on the nerve. When those structures are removed, there is less pressure on the nerve allowing normal blood flow to return and nerve function to improve.  For the right patient, this can mean a measurable reduction in pain, improved sensation, better strength and function and balance and reduced reliance on medication.

Dr. Williams has treated patients with diabetic neuropathy, post-surgical nerve pain, tarsal tunnel syndrome, meralgia paresthetica, piriformis syndrome, and many other conditions. Patients who haven't been able to find a provider with this depth of focus locally often choose to travel to Baltimore rather than continue managing symptoms indefinitely.

How the Process Begins Before You Travel

You don't have to book a flight to find out whether Dr. Williams might be able to help. The intake process is intentionally designed to give both you and Dr. Williams the information needed to determine if an in-person visit makes sense before you commit to traveling.

The first step is completing an initial patient summary form. This form asks for a detailed account of your symptoms—when they started, where they are located, what they feel like, what makes them worse, and what has been tried. The more specific you can be, the better. Descriptions like "burning across the top of my foot" or "shooting pain from the outside of my knee down to my big toe" are far more useful than "my foot hurts."

Dr. Williams personally reviews each submission to determine whether a peripheral nerve problem may be contributing to your pain. If there is information missing, the office will reach out to you to try to fill in the gaps.  If he believes he may be able to help, someone from his team will contact you to arrange either a phone consultation or an in-person office visit. If an in-person office visit is the right next step, that's when travel planning begins.

Planning Your Travel

Getting to Baltimore is straightforward from most of the country. The city sits along the I-95 corridor on the East Coast, which means it's within driving distance for a large portion of the population. For those coming from farther away, several transportation options make the trip manageable even for patients dealing with chronic pain.

Getting Here by Air

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the closest major airport, located approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Baltimore. It serves most major carriers and offers direct routes from cities across the country. The airport has an accessible ground transportation center with taxi service, rideshare pickup, and a free shuttle to the MARC commuter rail station on-site. For patients who have difficulty walking long distances, BWI offers complimentary wheelchair assistance—contact your airline when booking to arrange this in advance.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), just outside Washington, D.C., is another option for patients flying into the region. It's roughly 40 miles from Baltimore, and WMATA's Metro system connects the airport to D.C.'s Union Station, where you can catch an Amtrak train to Baltimore. If you're flying into DCA, factor in at least 90 minutes of additional travel time to reach Baltimore.

Baltimore Washington International Airport's ground transportation page provides current information on shuttles, rental cars, taxis, and rideshare options—worth checking before your trip so you're not figuring it out on arrival.

Getting Here by Train

For patients traveling from the Northeast or mid-Atlantic region, Amtrak is often the most comfortable option. Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Acela trains stop at Baltimore Penn Station, located at 1500 N. Charles Street in the Station North neighborhood. Travel times from nearby cities are reasonable: approximately 40 minutes from Washington, D.C., 90 minutes from Philadelphia, and 2.5 hours from New York City.

Train travel has a practical advantage for patients with lower extremity pain. You can move around the cabin, elevate your legs, or shift positions in a way that sitting in a car or plane seat doesn't always allow. Baltimore Penn Station is accessible and has rideshare pickup and taxi service directly outside the main entrance.

MARC commuter rail, operated by the Maryland Transit Administration, also connects BWI Airport to Baltimore Penn Station with frequent departures and a low fare. MARC train schedules and fares are available through the Maryland Transit Administration's website.

Getting Around Baltimore

Once you're in Baltimore, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are widely available and tend to be the easiest option for patients who don't want to deal with driving or parking. Baltimore also has a light rail system and bus network operated by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), though for medical appointments, rideshare will typically be more convenient.

If you're renting a car, Interstate 83 runs directly into the city from the north, while I-95 and I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway) provide access from the south and east. Dr. Williams's office is located at 8601 Lasalle Rd, Suite 104, Towson, MD 21286—approximately 8 miles north of downtown Baltimore, easily accessible via I-695 and I-83. His team can advise you on parking when you confirm your appointment 

Where to Stay

Baltimore has a range of hotel options across price points. The Inner Harbor area is a popular base for visitors—it's centrally located, walkable for those who are able, and has good access to transportation. Patients who prefer to stay closer to Dr. Williams's Towson office may also want to look at hotels along the I-695 corridor near Towson, which can reduce travel time on the day of your appointment. 

If you have mobility limitations due to your condition, look specifically for hotels that advertise ADA-accessible rooms and confirm that accessible entrances, elevators, and bathroom fixtures are available before booking.

Extended-stay properties can be a good choice if you're planning to remain in Baltimore for surgery and early recovery, since having access to a kitchen and more living space can make a longer stay significantly more comfortable.

Visit Baltimore's official accommodations page provides an overview of hotels and neighborhoods that may be useful when you're comparing options. 

How Long to Plan For

For an initial consultation, plan to stay at least two nights. Appointments can run longer than expected when a thorough examination is involved, and you'll want time to rest and process what you've learned before traveling home. Some patients find it helpful to write down their questions in advance and to bring someone with them who can help remember what was discussed.

If surgery is recommended and you move forward, your total stay will depend on the procedure and your recovery progress. Dr. Williams's team will give you a realistic estimate based on your specific situation, including guidance on when it's safe to make the return trip home.

Practical Guidance for Traveling Patients Before and After Surgery

Traveling for medical care is different from any other kind of trip. You're not sightseeing. You may be in pain, you may be anxious, and you're trying to make important decisions while managing the logistics of being far from home. A little preparation goes a long way toward making the experience less draining—both for the consultation trip and, if surgery follows, for the recovery period that comes after.

Making the Trip as Comfortable as Possible

Chronic nerve pain anywhere in the body makes travel difficult.   When the problem is in the lower extremities this can make sitting for long periods genuinely difficult. Whether you're flying, taking the train, or driving, planning ahead for your comfort isn't a luxury—it's a practical necessity.

If you're flying, request an aisle seat when you book. Aisle seating lets you stand, stretch, and shift your weight without disturbing other passengers. For patients with burning or tingling in the feet and legs, the ability to stand briefly during a flight can make a meaningful difference. Request wheelchair or mobility assistance at the same time you book your ticket—don't wait until you arrive at the airport. Airlines assign assistance in advance, and showing up without a request on file can mean a long wait. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides a helpline specifically for travelers with disabilities or medical conditions, including guidance on traveling with medications and medical devices.

If you're traveling by train, Amtrak offers passenger accessibility services that include boarding assistance, accessible seating, and onboard support. These can be arranged when booking. Train travel generally allows more freedom of movement than flying, which many patients with lower extremity pain find preferable for the return trip home after surgery.

Long drives are worth thinking through carefully. Sitting in a car for three or more hours can aggravate nerve symptoms in the legs and feet. If you're driving to Baltimore, plan for rest stops every 60 to 90 minutes. After surgery, driving yourself is not advisable—you'll need someone with you for the return trip, regardless of how the procedure went.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Preparation before your visit directly affects the quality of the evaluation you receive. The more complete and organized your information is, the more time Dr. Williams can spend actually examining you rather than reconstructing your history from memory.

You’ll want to remember to bring:

• Printed or digital copies of your relevant imaging studies. This includes MRI reports, MR neurography results, X-rays, and any ultrasound findings. EMG and nerve conduction study results are particularly useful. If you've had nerve blocks or diagnostic injections, bring notes on when they were performed and whether they provided any relief, even temporarily. That detail matters.

• A written summary of your symptom history. Include when the pain started, what it feels like (specific descriptions—burning, electrical, pins and needles, numbness), which part of the foot, leg, or extremity is affected, what makes it worse, and what has helped, even partially. 

• A medication list that includes doses of both prescription and over-the-counter medications. The CDC offers a free medication list template that can help you organize this before your trip.

• Your insurance cards and any pre-authorization paperwork if your plan requires it for out-of-network specialist visits. Sorting out insurance logistics before you travel is considerably easier than addressing them afterward.

Bringing a Support Person

Having someone with you—a family member, close friend, or trusted caregiver—is one of the most practical things you can do for both the consultation visit and the post-surgical recovery period.

During the appointment itself, a support person can help take notes, ask follow-up questions, and remember details that are easy to miss when you're the one receiving difficult information. It's common to leave a medical consultation and realize you can only recall half of what was said. A second set of ears changes that. Of course, you may always request a copy of your completed visit paperwork to help jog your memory of what was said, but it is still often advantageous to have another pair of eyes and ears with you.   

After surgery, the value of having someone with you increases substantially. You may need help with transportation in the days immediately following the operation, especially if you won't be able to drive. Depending on your mobility, you may need assistance getting in and out of the hotel, managing stairs, or simply getting meals. Someone who can monitor your recovery and recognize signs that something needs attention—unusual swelling, increased pain, fever—is a genuine safety net when you're far from home.

If traveling with a companion isn't possible, plan your accommodations accordingly. Choose a hotel close to Dr. Williams's office in Towson (8601 Lasalle Rd, Suite 104), confirm that accessible transportation is readily available, and make sure you have a clear plan for getting to and from the surgical center on the day of your procedure.