Frequently Asked Questions – Hollywood, FL
Answering Your
Osteopathic Questions
Osteopathic medicine is not new; in fact, many of our treatments and technologies have decades of history behind them. However, many people aren’t as familiar with osteopathic medicine as they might be with other forms of health care, which is why we often receive a lot of questions from prospective patients. We make a point of always taking the time to educate our patients so that they can make decisions about their care that they feel confident in. Below are our responses to some of the questions that we’ve heard most often.
What is an osteopathic doctor (DO)?
An osteopathic doctor is a physician who specializes in hands-on treatment methods to reduce pain, help heal injuries, and improve the overall health of their patients. Our practice uses a combination of traditional osteopathic techniques and the latest technology so that our patients can benefit from time-tested solutions while also receiving the benefits of the most state-of-the-art treatment options.
How does someone become an osteopathic doctor?
Osteopathic doctors need to complete an undergraduate program at a university, which is the same for medical doctors. Afterward, they attend an accredited osteopathic medicine program for four years. After graduation, they need to complete a three- or four-year residency. Those interested in a particular specialty may have to do an extra year for additional training.
What is the difference between a DO and a chiropractor?
Chiropractors and osteopathic physicians both offer non-invasive options for treating pain. However, an osteopathic doctor has been trained in medical and surgical practice, while chiropractors do not have such training. Chiropractic care focuses on correcting misalignment or subluxation in the spine. Osteopathic care, on the other hand, is much broader and checks the entire body for the possible source of the pain, which may involve looking at areas that are distant from the site of the pain and examine your internal organs for possible explanations of musculoskeletal pain. For example, pain in your shoulder might actually point to an inflamed gallbladder. Meanwhile, pain in your chest wall often points to cardiac problems, but it can also be the result of gastrointestinal issues. Correctly identifying the cause allows osteopathic physicians to devise more effective treatment plans that stop pain for good.
Which one is best: prolotherapy, prolozone, PRP, or amniotic growth factors?
There is no one right answer here because all of these injectable treatments offer a number of benefits. The one that’s best for you will vary based on the nature of your injury, your goal for a recovery timeline, and your budget. Prolotherapy and prolozone, for example, work slower on average than PRP or amniotic growth factors, but since they also cost less, they’re often seen as the better option for those with only mild to moderate injuries that need to be treated.
Are DOs allowed to prescribe medication?
Yes, osteopathic doctors are fully licensed physicians and therefore are allowed to write prescriptions based on a patient’s needs. When we prescribe any sort of medication, we make sure that our treatment protocols are adjusted to match. The goal of treatment will be to help you gradually stop using your medication so that you can function normally without it.
Do you take insurance?
We take many major insurance plans, different types of Medicare, PIP, and Worker’s Compensation. The members of our team have a lot of experience working with insurance and know how to make the filing process easy while maximizing our patients’ savings. To learn how we can help you get the most out of your own plan, call our office today.
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