Dr. Varun Deodhar

Pain & Palliative Care

Pain & Palliative Care is not just about treating disease—it is about treating the person. It provides relief from distressing symptoms like severe pain, breathlessness, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and depression. This service is especially vital for patients with conditions such as cancer, heart failure, COPD, kidney failure, neurological diseases, and elderly patients with complex health needs.

Unlike curative treatments that aim to eliminate disease, palliative care aims to reduce suffering and support quality of life, regardless of the stage of illness.

Symptoms & Causes That Require Palliative Care:

Patients may experience:

Uncontrolled Pain – from cancer, trauma, or chronic illness
Shortness of Breath – in terminal cardiac or pulmonary diseases
Nausea and Vomiting – due to medications or organ failure
Fatigue and Weakness – in progressive conditions
Anxiety, Depression, and Emotional Distress – common in long-term illness
Loss of Appetite and Sleep Disturbances
Functional Decline and Frailty in Elderly Patients

These symptoms often result from progressive diseases, side effects of treatments, or complications of age-related degeneration.

Treatment Approach by Dr. Varun Deodhar:

Dr. Deodhar adopts a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach combining medical expertise with empathetic support. Treatments may include:

Pain Management:

Use of medications such as analgesics, opioids, and adjuvant drugs
Nerve blocks and local anesthesia for specific types of pain
Non-pharmacological methods like physiotherapy or relaxation techniques

Symptom Control:

Oxygen therapy, antiemetics, antianxiety medications
Palliative procedures for fluid drainage, feeding support, or symptom relief
Nutritional support for strength and healing

Psychosocial & Emotional Care:

Psychological counselling and mental health support
Family education and involvement in care planning
Grief and bereavement counselling for families

Home-Based Palliative Services:

Comfortable end-of-life care in the patient’s home environment
Regular follow-up and symptom monitoring
Coordination with caregivers and family members

Prevention & Early Intervention:

While palliative care typically begins when illness is advanced, early integration during the course of a disease greatly enhances quality of life. Prevention focuses on:

Timely management of chronic pain before it becomes debilitating
Emotional and psychological support for patients with serious diagnoses
Advance care planning and discussions with patients and families
Early identification of symptoms that impact quality of life