As Dr. Dosanjh explains, a Treatment Plan is developed according to patients’ individual needs based on a complete medical evaluation, patient history and imaging, if necessary. “It’s important to spend time with patients and show them that you care simply by listening to them,” he says. “Patients often are misdiagnosed because of the limited time they have with their providers.” To make matters worse, Dr. Dosanjh explains that misdiagnosis can have life-altering effects if unnecessary medications or surgery are recommended. He recalls two instances when patients came to Medici Medical Arts after having been diagnosed by other doctors with serious issues that could have had long-term effects on their health and quality of life. In both instances, Dr. Dosanjh identified the source of the pain and treated the pain successfully without surgery. “Not every diagnosis and treatment is simple,” he adds, “but it’s important to pay attention to patients and to do a thorough physical exam. I try to treat my patients like I would my own family —with compassionate, focused care.” Dr. Dosanjh also emphasizes nutrition and wellness as part of patients’ evaluation. “No matter what your condition, proper nutrition and exercise play a big role in overall health,” he says, adding that vitamin and electrolyte deficiencies can be a major contributor to pain. Lab tests, performed on patients, will indicate any vitamin, mineral or electrolyte deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, presence of narcotics or other issues. Dr. Dosanjh may recommend physical therapy to help patients increase range of motion, improve flexibility or build strength so that they can begin an exercise program. “An increase in lean body mass correlates to a more successful outcome, so we stress nutrition and exercise as the fundamentals to overall health and wellness,” he says. Other health issues associated with chronic pain can include depression and addiction. As Dr. Dosanjh explains, depression brought on by pain can result in even further problems.
“Women and men alike can experience diminished sex drive and fatigue as a result of depression, which can affect intimacy and relationships,” he says. People may also become dependent upon narcotics and other pharmaceuticals used to deal with the pain. A dependency upon narcotics may lead to financial problems as well. “It’s imperative that we are mindful of all the different issues that people can develop as a result of living with pain,” Dr. Dosanjh says. “At Medici Medical Arts, we work with patients to not only identify and treat the source of their pain but also to help them understand the source of their depression and/or addiction, and break the cycle.”
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Dr. Dosanjh works with Dr. Blazen Palisades at West Paces Draguljic, (M.D.), a specialist in 3200 Downwood Circle, N.W., Suite 410 psychiatry addictionology, to help Atlanta, GA 30327 patients sort through the mental, DUNWOODY physical and dependency issues often 7100 Peachtree Dunwoody, Suite 100 associated with chronic pain. Whenever Atlanta, GA 30328 possible, Dr. Draguljic and Dr. Dosanjh like to involve family members to get WOODSTOCK their perspective on how patients’ pain, 203 Woodpark Place, Building B-200 depression and addiction have impacted Woodstock, GA 30188 not only the individual patients but also their loved ones. “In most cases, people don’t recognize how their behavior affects everyone around them; spouses usually suffer the most,” says Dr. Dosanjh. “Having different perspectives offers a better understanding so that we can develop the best treatment options. While the patients are the ones Sonny Dosanjh, M.D. Dr. Blazen Draguljic experiencing pain, they’re not the only ABMS Board Certified Board Certified Psychiatry ones suffering. Successful treatment Physical Medicine & Addictionology involves a team effort and support Rehabilitation network to return patients to renewed Emory Fellowship Trained Pain Medicine health and quality of life.”
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