January 25th, 2012 
AmeeL If you have a chronic back pain condition, you’re likely looking for the right specialist to provide effective diagnosis and treatment. Yet few people know that they can make an important choice starting with the type of physician they initially see. The conventional M.D. (doctor of medicine) is not the only option for those seeking a doctor. Doctors of osteopathy (D.O.s) are physicians who have the same responsibilities and qualifications as M.D.s, but take a much different approach.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s receive an undergraduate degree after 4 years of study in a field of science related to medicine. They then must participate in 4 years of training before taking their licensing exams. Both types of doctor then have the option to study a specialized area of health care for 2 to 6 years. Osteopathic doctors can perform surgery and prescribe medicine just as M.D.s can.
If you’ve never heard of a D.O., you’re not alone. According to KidsHealth.org, only 5% of physicians in the U.S. are osteopathic doctors. The method of the osteopathic doctor is often referred to as holistic (treating the whole system), whereas the conventional method of doctors of medicine is considered allopathic (treating the symptoms). These different approaches can determine how effective your treatment is, and it is important to understand your options.
Holistic Vs. Allopathic
Unfortunately, many cases of chronic back pain are categorized as non-specific or idiopathic, which means that the cause is unknown. Undiagnosed back pain is, of course, more difficult to treat than pain whose source is understood. Doctors of osteopathy have a distinct advantage over conventional doctors when it comes to treating musculoskeletal pain, as their training emphasizes the importance of this system to overall health and the interconnectedness of bones, muscles and nerves. Whereas an M.D. may seek to eliminate muscular pain by prescribing a muscle relaxer, a D.O. may notice that the muscular pain is being cause by dysfunction somewhere else, such as nerve entrapment in the spine or postural issues. In this way, D.O.s can treat the actual causes of back pain.
D.O.s have another advantage over doctors when it comes to musculoskeletal pain: They are trained in manipulation techniques called osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) similar to what chiropractors use, as well as tissue work similar to what massage therapists perform. This means a D.O. is better equipped to both diagnose and treat the cause of your pain. Although they do prescribe medications, D.O.s are likely to rely less on medication than M.D.s given their hands-on, holistic approach to treatment.
Cost
It is important to know that most, but not all, insurance companies cover osteopathy, and not all D.O.s accept insurance. Look around for one who does. A study comparing the cost effectiveness of osteopathic versus allopathic treatment for migraine patients showed that people receiving osteopathic care spent half as much, in medication and visit costs, as those seeking conventional treatment. Pain scores were the same for both groups. The osteopathic doctors in this study prescribed much less medication than doctors of medicine. See more at www.jaoa.org.
If you wish to avoid prescription drugs and receive thorough back pain treatment, consider seeking out a doctor of osteopathy. They are better equipped to detect musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction than medical doctors and may even cost less. Refer to www.osteopathic.org for information on osteopaths in your area.
Posted in 
Tags: 