What Is Osteopathy and How Can It Help You?What is osteopathy and how can it help your overall health and well-being? Here's everything you need to know about osteopathic medicine and how it works.
Keyword(s): what is osteopathy

Chronic physical and mental health conditions account for 90 percent of the $3.5 trillion spent on health care in the United States each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent of American adults live with chronic pain.
Do you have a health condition, suffer from pain or hope to avoid future medical problems? You may want to consider osteopathy.
What is osteopathy? It's a growing branch of medicine that is grabbing the attention of both patients and health practitioners.
Here's everything you need to know about osteopathy. We'll cover what it is, how it works, why patients prefer it and what to expect at your first appointment.
What Is Osteopathy?Osteopathy is its own branch of medicine in the United States. It's different from more traditional branches because it's holistic. Osteopaths understand the body's systems work together to make a unified, healthy whole. Their diagnostic and treatment approaches reflect this special value.
A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is known as a DO, which is a fully-licensed designation. Just like a traditional MD, or Medical Doctor, becoming a DO requires:

• Extensive graduate-level education
• Training (residency, fellowship)
• Tens of thousands of hours caring for patients

One in four American medical students are attending osteopathic medical school, according to the American Osteopathic Association. The association estimates DOs will make up more than 20 percent of the practicing physician population by 2030.
How Does Osteopathy Work?Osteopathy operates on the holistic principle that each part of the body is connected to form a whole. Everything must work well for you to feel healthy.
One of osteopathy's top tools is called Osteopathic Manual Medicine. This is a type of manual therapy. Doctors use hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat patients.
DOs prioritize manual medicine because they see the body's function and structure as working together. If the structure is out of line, body functions will also be off. Hands-on techniques focus on muscles, soft tissue, connective tissue, the head, the lymphatic system and more.
Because of this hands-on aspect, some people confuse DOs with chiropractors. Although chiropractors use their hands to adjust spines, they do not have nearly the same amount of training as DOs. Chiropractic care also focuses more on the spine rather than the entire body.
What Happens With Osteopathic Primary CareIf you have a DO or other osteopathic provider, you have a guardian of wellness on your side. Your doctor is helping you manage problems from a broad approach. He or she is also preventing issues from surfacing in your future.
Your provider understands how your lifestyle and environment impact your overall health. This is important because these are things that you can usually control. 
When you use osteopathic primary care, you can expect your practitioner to listen to you. He or she will do what it takes to get to the root of your health problems or concerns.
How Osteopathy Approaches Special Situations: Pain and Opioid Addiction TreatmentOsteopathic practitioners work in many specialties and have holistic approaches for many problems. Here are just a couple of examples.
Osteopathy's effectiveness in treating all sorts of pain is well established. Studies support its use for carpal tunnel, migraines and low back pain, to name a few. If you have any kind of pain, including headaches, a sports injury or irritable bowel, you may want to consider osteopathy.
Some osteopaths also have special approaches to dealing with addiction. This is a critical medical contribution. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the opioid epidemic is a public health emergency.
If you're addicted to opioids or opiates, consider the benefits of combining osteopathic manipulative medicine with buprenorphine (suboxone) assisted treatment. Buprenorphine is an FDA-approved treatment that prevents withdrawal, treats pain and stops opioid and opiate cravings. You won't get a high or feel sedated. 

Why Choose Osteopathic Care?
Your body's parts and systems do not operate in isolation. Instead, every part of your body works as an integral aspect of your overall health. Osteopathy understands this and looks at the body as a whole. Neck pain is never just about the neck, and heart disease isn't a concern isolated to the heart.
Osteopathy's holistic view helps balance all systems to treat and prevent injury and disease. This approach emphasizes self-healing, not drugs or surgery. The treatments are not invasive and complement any traditional medical treatments you receive.
When you're looking for a DO, consider a clinic that offers complementary services, such as medical massage. Many patients find that massage helps their bodies prepare for Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Massage also can reduce muscle tension and regulate emotions, including anxiety. You'll be supporting your overall healing process.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment. 
Osteopathy is centered around the patient's needs. This means your provider will want to meet you before deciding on any treatments. Wear comfortable clothes that make it easy to move around.
Your provider will ask you to demonstrate some stretches and other movements. He or she will gently touch your joints, ligaments and tissues to see how they move. This will reveal any restrictions, tightness or tension that your treatments should target.
After your assessment, your provider will sit down with you to discuss your current concerns and future goals. Based on this assessment, you will receive a comprehensive proposed treatment plan. This will include the number of anticipated sessions.
Your treatment may include changes to make at home. These can include making adjustments to your diet, exercise routine, posture and habits. You may also receive advice on what you should do before and after future appointments. Be sure to follow through — that's how you will come to see the best results.
Try Osteopathy to Holistically Treat and Prevent Problems
​What is osteopathy? It may be the answer you're looking for. It can help you better manage an injury or health problem. It can also help prevent future issues and improve your general health.
To schedule an appointment in the Indianapolis area or learn more about what osteopathy can do for you, contact us today.

How Does Suboxone Work for Opioid Addiction?How does Suboxone work for opioid addiction? Find out how the medicine helps many people overcome their battle with opiate abuse.
Keyword(s): how does suboxone work

Quitting opioids isn't as simple as deciding to stop. Opioid withdrawal isn't just psychological.
It's physical and the process tears your body apart. What's worse, there's only one thing that can stop the suffering caused by withdrawal - more opioids.
If you meet someone who has stopped abusing opioids, then there's a good chance they did it with the help of medication like Suboxone.
How does Suboxone work for treating opioid addiction? Keep reading to learn more that may help you.
What Opioid Withdrawal Does to You BodyEven short-term opioid abuse has damaging effects on your body. It alters the circuits in your brain that control your mood as well as those that reward good behavior.
Long-term use alters all your body's systems, including the entirety of your nervous system.
So, when you go through opioid withdrawal, you don't just crave the high. You may also experience symptoms like:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Large pupils
• Chills
• Abdominal pain
• Joint and muscle pain
• Agitation
• Mood swings
• Suicidal ideation

People who go through it often describe it as the worst flu you could possibly have. Unlike the flu, hydration and an IV with nutrients won't take the pain away. Moreover, although the intense initial symptoms dissipate after a few days, some linger for weeks.
That's why so many people turn to prescriptions to help them through opioid withdrawal.
What is Suboxone?Suboxone is the brand name for a type of buprenorphine, which is an opioid similar to methadone but lasts over a shorter period of time.
It targets the same receptors that opioids or methadone might, but it comes with less risk of overdose or addiction.
You can take Suboxone in pill form or as a film, and you can use it to start your detox and manage withdrawal. You may also use it in conjunction with other treatments as you continue into the recovery phase.
How Does Suboxone Work?Suboxone works by making withdrawal bearable, which prevents you from relapsing and overdosing. It offers things like:

• Pain relief
• Calmness
• Reduced stress
• Elimination of cravings

By eliminating the worst of the withdrawal, it keeps your mind and body stable so that you can look forward and focus on other areas of treatment.
Are There Any Side Effects?You must take Suboxone according to your doctor's instructions. If you don't, you can experience symptoms of opioid withdrawal, like the ones noted above.
If you do start experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, you should talk to your doctor immediately.
Additionally, there are some rare but adverse side effects associated with Suboxone. You should also see your doctor if you experience:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Sweating
• Stomach ache
• Headache
• Vomiting 
• Lethargy

Your doctor may also warn you about the potential interactions that Suboxone can have with other over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The known interactions include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Cholesterol medications
• Fluoxetine
• HIV treatments (PrEP and other drugs)
• Oral contraceptives
• Niacin
• Verapamil

You may also find they interact with supplements or herbal remedies.
Be sure you give your healthcare provider a list of everything you take before they prescribe Suboxone. Don't start any new supplements or medications after you begin Suboxone treatment without first talking to your doctor. 
Can You Become Addicted to Suboxone?There's a myth that suggests that you aren't actually in recovery if you take Suboxone. This isn't true. Abstinence-based therapies have a low success rate, and they come with serious risks, including a high rate of relapse and overdose.
Taking Suboxone is the first step to recovery if your doctor believes it's the right choice for you. However, it is important to remember that Suboxone is still an opiate and it can be abused.
Yes, you can become addicted to Suboxone. But you have a low chance of this if you follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. You're also less likely to become addicted when you use Suboxone with other therapies, like talk therapy, support groups, and other types of support.
Can You Overdose on Suboxone?It is exceptionally difficult to overdose on Suboxone alone. In fact, overdose prevention is built into the chemical of the drug. There' is a limit to how far Suboxone can go in charging your opioid receptors, so you have a lower risk of slowed breathing compared to methadone, prescription opioids, or heroin.
Overdoses do happen. However, it is usually the result of Suboxone abuse, which involves mixing it with other drugs, like sedatives. 
If you take Suboxone as prescribed, you should have no issues with overdosing.
How Do You Start Suboxone Treatment for Opioid Withdrawal?Suboxone is only available from an approved prescribing physician, so you need to start with an approved doctor first.
Your doctor works with you to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
How long will you be on Suboxone? It depends. Some people might take it for a few months and others may take it over the long-term.  There's no evidence suggesting that Suboxone is only for the first phase of recovery.
Are You Ready to Live a Life Free from Opioids?Opioid abuse is a rampant problem not because people are weak but because the prescriptions that were supposed to help us live better are too strong. Opioids change your entire body, which means quitting requires more than a firm mindset.
Using physician-supervised medication therapy to help withdraw and recover from opioids is becoming more common.
These prescriptions take your body's chemistry into account and help you move forward without the risks of trying to go cold turkey.
Are you ready to live a life free from opioids? Are you still wondering "how does Suboxone work?" and need even more information? Get in touch to learn more about how we help patients begin the road towards sobriety with the help of Suboxone.