Myth Busting- Osteopaths don’t believe in using pain medications

False!  Just because osteopaths don’t use or prescribe pain medications doesn’t mean that we don’t believe in using them.  For an idea of where this misconception may have come from we need to look at osteopathic philosophy. There’s an osteopathic principle that states that ‘the body is it’s own medicine chest and has everything that it needs within itself to heal itself.’  For example, endorphins are produced by the body and can block the perception of pain by binding to certain receptors in the brain.  However, the activities that increase endorphin levels, such as doing exercise aren’t necessarily ones that you would really want to do if you’re injured for fear of aggravating the pain further.  In this case, even though the body is perfectly capable of producing a chemical that can give pain relief it may be easier to take a painkilling tablet instead.

Some will argue that osteopathic treatment can help to increase endorphin levels and thus reduce pain and they are not wrong!  Hands on treatment and massage have been shown to increase levels of endorphins within the body so visiting your osteopath could (among others) help your pain in this way.  But again, if you can’t get to see your osteopath straight away then you may want to take a painkiller to help in the meantime and that’s your choice.

Osteopaths tend to look deeper at pain and try to find out what’s causing it and then treat that.  This may be a joint that’s not moving as it should be or a muscle that is ‘tighter’ than it needs to be or any other number of things.  The painkiller will take the pain away but it won’t necessarily do anything for this underlying cause so that often the pain just comes back.  Using a painkiller may get rid of the pain completely, maybe while you couldn’t feel the pain you were able to stretch and mobilise the problem area so that the pain doesn’t come back.  But if the pain does come back the this is when an osteopath’s thinking comes into it’s own.

At the end of the day everything has it’s place and as long as painkillers are used correctly they are a great treatment modality.  As an osteopath I don’t prescribe painkillers (or other medications) because I am not qualified to do so and I will always refer you to your GP or your pharmacist should you ask me if I think you should stop taking a prescribed medication.  I am more than happy to discuss the pros and cons of pain medications and joint injections with you so that you can make an informed decision about their use (I’ll also advise you to do the same with your GP/pharmacist as well 😉).  

So, no, it’s not that osteopaths don’t believe in the use of drugs in treating pain. It’s more that we have different ways of helping with pain relief and pain management and it’s this that we are best known for.

NOTE- this post showcases my views on medication usage. Other osteopaths will have their own views.