Hey! I want in on the piece of the pie.

D.O.'s have the same basic training as M.D.'s but they study manipulative therapy and now even other alternative therapies. They go through 4 years of medical school just as regular drs do.

I went to a DO a few years ago. He does a variety of alternative medicine therapies. In my case, I had him do acupuncture. It was awesome! He also tried manipulative therapy on me but it didn't work. At the time I didn't know I had MS and I really think that is why the manipulative therapy didn't work. We really didn't know what we were dealing with (MS Vise Grip!). At any rate, if I had a spare $40 a week or even monthly I would go to him just to get those little needles in me and relieve some of the pain.

Now, how much of the pie do I get? LOL

My PCP will consider it and looks things up all the time for me. Some alternative meds don't mix with the meds we take. Example: Green tea does not mix well with many medications and, in my opinion, the worst being Coumadin (messes up your protime). It doesn't mix well with ADs either.

OT: Speaking of ADs, I learned something. Celexa and ibuprofen don't mix well either. It took me a while to figure that out as I was getting bruises all over for no reason at all. I found the info on the FDA site. I stopped taking the Advil for pain and the bruising stopped.

My requirements are:

1) Must be willing to prescribe “off label” drugs when it makes sense to do so.
2) Must be there when you need her – good access for discussion and appointments.
3) Willing to study – my past medical record, alternate therapies.
4) Must take Medicare.

My primary doc is a D.O. also, I have always gone to D.O.'s, I prefer them to MD's anytime. Mine does adjustments to my back and (generally) a DO would rather "find the cure/cause and treat rather than cover it up with patchwork medicine. Mine also takes all the time I NEED rather than rush me out of the office. Because of this, I always schedule for either the first appointment of the day or the first one after lunch, otherwise he is always about 1/2 hour Late. He only works 2 days a week. This week I had an appointment and I said I felt OLD because I just turned 40, he said, he also just had a birthday, his was 70. That made me feel better.