Patient Reviews
OC Sports and Wellness
Contributed by Real Patients.
What Patients Are Saying
At OC Sports and Wellness, our greatest source of pride is the trust and long-term relationships we build with our patients. The testimonials below are shared by real people — men and women, weekend warriors and elite athletes — who came to us seeking more than quick fixes. They found a practice where their full story was heard, their health goals understood, and personalized care delivered with compassion and expertise.
From chronic pain relief to sports injury recovery, from holistic wellness transformations to performance-driven care, these voices reflect the heart of our practice: medicine tailored to the whole person, not just the symptoms. Please scroll through our patient reviews to see how our team has helped individuals heal, thrive, and regain hope in their health journey.
Dr. Sunshine cares. In a world where doctors seem to treat their patients as 3-minute transactions, Dr. Sunshine develops long-lasting relationships with his patients, taking the time to thoroughly understand the whole patient, their concerns, and prescribes treatment best suited for the entirety of patient. The value of this relationship and the level of trust that comes with it is immeasurable. As an example, some time ago I was feeling quite sick and went to OC Sports and Wellness to get whatever medicine would make me better. Dr. Sunshine ran some tests and provided treatment as I would have expected. A couple of days later, out of the blue, I received a call from him following up and letting me know that the tests he ran came back indicating I had contracted multiple viruses and that we should adjust the treatment. No doctor had ever done that for me. That chance session started a 25-year medical relationship, and I have been privileged to have him keeping me healthy ever since.
I recall my diagnosis was stage three or four arthritis in my left knee. Over the past three years, I have progressed from Euflexxa and Supartz to cortisone for emergency relief and treatment before golfing trips and things like that. When the gels no longer worked and the cortisone was obviously not healthy for the tissue, I was taking diclofenac. When the injections no longer worked, I finally went to the platelet-rich plasma injections. I’ve had two of those over the past two months, and the relief has been very encouraging. Dr. Samuel Sunshine and PRP have removed my dependence on NSAIDs. PRP has removed 95% of the stiffness and aches associated with knee arthritis.
I signed up for Direct Primary Care with Dr. Sunshine as soon as the program was announced because Dr. Sunshine provides excellent patient care. Dr. Sunshine exudes patience, intently listens, asks questions, and is genuinely concerned about patient health. I can see Dr. Sunshine in person, converse online, by text, or phone for one year. I am spending less now than when I did have health insurance coverage.
I’m currently 42 years old and have spent my life as an athlete in constant motion. I played competitive soccer through the age of 34, have skied the most extreme courses my entire life, love playing basketball, bike constantly, and now try to keep up with my twin boys. As a veteran of five knee surgeries (Two ACLs, three cleanups), I noticed in my 37th year, my left knee was beginning to feel old well beyond my age. I would pound the ibuprofen pre-ski, pre-bball..pre everything. And the post workout soreness was a week long recovery.
After reading about PRP success by Kobe, Tiger and others, I was lucky enough to find the service offered by Dr. Sunshine at OC Sports and Wellness. I cannot stress enough about the quality of life improvements PRP has given me. After four rounds on my knee, my return to function is phenomenal. I now again play soccer and basketball a couple times a week and the post workout pain has reduced to normal. I spent five days in a row skiing this past winter, without taking ibuprofren…and as evidenced by the picture…I got the opportunity to teach my boys how to jump. Thanks so much to Dr. Sunshine and team for providing me the continued opportunity to fully enjoy life the way I can!
After reading about PRP success by Kobe, Tiger and others, I was lucky enough to find the service offered by Dr. Sunshine at OC Sports and Wellness. I cannot stress enough about the quality of life improvements PRP has given me. After four rounds on my knee, my return to function is phenomenal. I now again play soccer and basketball a couple times a week and the post workout pain has reduced to normal. I spent five days in a row skiing this past winter, without taking ibuprofren…and as evidenced by the picture…I got the opportunity to teach my boys how to jump. Thanks so much to Dr. Sunshine and team for providing me the continued opportunity to fully enjoy life the way I can!
I workout everyday. When I don’t I get depressed. I hurt my shoulder and couldn’t get the darn thing to heal. I was unable to complete my workouts without shooting pain in the joint. I heard about Dr. Sunshine through a friend who said, “You got to go see this doctor.” I must say Dr. Sunshine is the real deal. The guy is an IRON MAN Triathlete, take a look at the pictures in the hallways, and understands sports injuries like no doctor I have ever gone to. My wife is a runner and hurt her hip. Went to Dr. Sunshine and in three weeks was running half marathons again. If you have a sports injury this is the doctor you want.
I’m a 57 year old who has been running about 40 miles a week for 20 years. A few years ago, when I went for my morning run, my quadriceps felt fatigued, as if I had just finished a marathon. This feeling was only present when I was trying to run. I saw several doctors who tested all sorts of things, with loads of blood tests, neurological tests, X-Ray, MRI etc. They found nothing. My morning run, which I used to relish, became a chore. After two long years of running with fatigued quadriceps I was ready to quit. Dr. Sunshine turned things around for me!
Have had great results and excellent care at OC Sports and Wellness. Dr. Sunshine is now our family doctor and takes care of the needs of our family of five. He is awesome. We appreciate being able to attend Physical Therapy on site if necessary. I have had unbelievably great results with Erin Piccola who is on site for acupuncture. A few weeks ago, I went to Erin for pain in my lower back, legs and feet. I thought it was a running/hiking injury. In one session, my pain was completely gone after almost three solid weeks of discomfort. Highly recommend OC Sports and Wellness to anyone.
I’ve been going here for years. Dr Sunshine is great. It is so difficult to find a good doctor that understands my active lifestyle, or as he’d say “extreme lifestyle.” He’d expect me to come in every so often from doing something crazy. This place focuses on helping people by healthy living through exercise which I love. They recommended a lot of everyday products that I still live by. They also take walk-in appointments so you basically get the help you need at any time. I highly recommend this place especially for athletes who seek healthy living through a provider that truly cares. I’ve been searching for a new doctor closer to home and it’s making me depressed because I haven’t found anything close to the quality of service I received here. I just might have to make the drive!
Dr. Sunshine (yes that’s his real name) is great. He is very knowledgeable and courteous and great at explaining things in a simple, easy to understand way.
I spent four years feeling sick and going to countless doctors that couldn’t help me. After a few months as OC Sports and Wellness member with Dr. Sunshine, I’m feeling better than I have years. It is such an amazing experience to work with a doctor who always makes time to listen to you and works with you to make sure you are as healthy as can be!
Dr. Sunshine takes interest in not only my overall health, but in my health goals as well. After years of yo-yo diets after having children, Dr. Sunshine encouraged a lifestyle change that incorporated proper nutrition and exercise. And the results have been amazing from the inside out. My cholesterol is at its lowest level ever, I have dropped close to 40 pounds (on average two pounds per week), five points in body fat, lots of inches and four clothing sizes…and I feel fabulous. The changes he encouraged me to make are easy ones to incorporate in my day to day routine, so it is becoming a way of life, not just a one time diet.
Down to earth sports doctor who even ran some of the course with me in my last Half Ironman! He walks the talk by remaining an active athlete in the community himself. Highly recommend him and his practice.
Dr. Sunshine and OC Sports and Wellness have helped me in numerous ways to improve my fitness and health. The doctor recommended some tests to uncover reasons that I had less than optimal energy and worked with me to begin, and later make adjustments to, an individualized treatment plan. Then, with guidance from Dr. Sunshine as well as OC Sports and Wellness experts in nutrition and exercise physiology, I set attainable goals for exercise and nutrition that have allowed me to safely reduce body fat while increasing muscle mass and aerobic capacity. It’s been decades since I’ve felt so fit and healthy, thanks in large measure to the care I receive at OC Sports and Wellness.
I have been going to Dr. Sunshine for the past three years. Dr. Sunshine and his office are wonderful! The staff is friendly and helpful and Dr. Sunshine is great. He takes the time to answer all my questions and always has some really good suggestions for my issues. His staff was also very helpful by calling my insurance to see if a certain procedure was covered. I just had my yearly physical and I got a personal call to explain my blood work within two days. I highly recommend Dr. Sunshine and his office.
I agreed to join family for a 1/2 marathon in Yellowstone. On Saturday morning, months after my treatment, I took the first place medal for my age division, beating 37 other runners in a field of 2000. Once again, I wake up in the morning looking forward to my runs. My wife says I walk around the house with a grin on my face. I owe it all to the diligence of Dr. Sunshine.
As an OC Sports and Wellness member, I have had a wonderful experience. It is affordable and you have access to your doctor at any given time. I cannot say enough about Dr.Sunshine and his staff, they truly make me feel like family. Everyone from the front desk to the back of the office has welcomed me with open arms since day one. I wouldn’t want to be a member anywhere else. Dr. Sunshine really cares for his patients and takes his time to understand every single one of them. I highly recommend this practice to anyone and everyone.
Dr Sunshine has been my primary care and sports doctor for seven years now and has overseen my transition from runner to triathlete by encouraging me to learn to swim following a running overuse injury. He is a triathlete himself and understands fully the mentality of of other athletes! He always finds conservative measures to help me with injuries and has tended to all aspects of my healthcare with the same care and compassion. He is kind, approachable and friendly, and has a great sense of humor. You never feel as though you’re another number passing through his rooms. He truly takes the time to make things better. Born to be a doctor!
I’m a runner trying to transition to triathlon and have encountered a few injuries along the way. Dr Sunshine has successfully treated me with prolotherapy, which has healed my plantar fascitiis and a nagging SI joint. He has a very conservative approach to treatment, is a triathlete himself and really understands the ‘I must move whatever it takes… ‘mentality!’ I’ve seen him for other aspects of healthcare too and he shows the same care, thought to treatment and spends time with you so you don’t walk out feeling like you’re just another case’. His staff is very efficient, friendly and helpful. This is a great practice and I highly recommend it.
Dr Sunshine always takes the time to explain things thoroughly. I don’t feel like he has one foot out the door, which I almost always feel with other doctors I have seen over the years. I love that there is a sports trainer/physical therapist that is on staff and have seen him for many sports related injuries. Highly recommended!
I highly recommend Dr Sunshine as a Primary Care Doctor who truly cares about keeping his patients WELL and is not focused only on Sports Medicine issues and athletes. A close friend referred me to Dr Sunshine when he was also working in Aliso Viejo eight years ago. He has treated me multiple times over the eight years and even though he works exclusively in Foothill Ranch now, I drive from Aliso Viejo to Foothill Ranch for office visits, physicals, well woman exams, and urgent care. I especially like the fact that he offers over-the-counter and home remedies and does not just write prescriptions when there are holistic or natural alternatives. It’s best to make an appointment, but I have been lucky to get in for same day appointments with short notice when needed. His type of care is worth waiting for.
I’ve gone to many physicians over the years…but they all push medicine down my throat and I don’t always want to take medicine. Dr. Sunshine gets this and supports this! Being somewhat in the industry myself, physicians tend to speak to me not as though I was a patient but as though I ‘just know’ what they mean. Dr. Sunshine treats me and speaks with me as a patient and thoroughly explains things. This place is wonderful and the Saturday hours help with busy schedules. During a recent sickness, we received a call at 8pm on a weekend from Dr. Sunshine….nice to know some offices still return patient calls even on weekends! I highly recommend this office!
I’ve had many primary care physicians over the years. I was with Kaiser for a while and when I left, I found Dr. Sunshine. He is the best doctor I’ve ever had by far. He takes time with me whenever I have anything going on. His staff is incredible. Sandy, his Office Manager, is so helpful! She’ll bend over backward to help with anything you need. And they are a DPC, which allows you to get extra care, more time with the doctor, very quick response at any hour, and truly affordable and comprehensive care. Plus, Dr. Sunshine focuses on overall wellness. He isn’t quick to prescribe medication. Instead, he focuses on holistic health, nutrition, and wellness, focusing on the root of any issue, rather than masking issues with drugs. Absolutely outstanding care!
I simply needed a pre-employment drug screening test. I was able to go there fully hydrated and there was virtually no wait. They get people in and out quickly and run a very efficient office. What a GREAT experience!
I am a coach and when my athletes ask who I recommend they go to – I send them to Dr. Sunshine. My husband goes to Dr. Sunshine. I go to Dr. Sunshine. My friends go to Dr. Sunshine. We are all athletes and he gets that we want to stay moving. He understands that the knife isn’t the first option, and the physical therapy guys are the best as well. If I have to, I can walk in. I’ve also used the Comfort Laser side of the business and had great results getting some “jowls” from aging to just disappear. Not fat based … just skin and gravity. Stimulated the collagen, and it was gone.
When I visited Dr. Sunshine, he listened carefully to the tests I had undergone and asked lots of questions, eventually he suggested a micro-nutrient test. The test found several vitamin and mineral deficiencies. After three months of taking specific supplements to replete the deficiencies, the fatigue in my quadriceps disappeared. I started feeling better and running, really running, and improving my performance in ways I had not seen for years.
Super knowledgeable sports physician looks for solutions through strengthening and physical therapy. I know when I come to him for help I get an answer from someone who understands how IMPORTANT running is to me. I drive 20 miles out of my way to see Dr. Sunshine!