I'm having a hard time with OMM...

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
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shadowlightfox

shadowlightfox

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Today was my first OMM lab, and each of us was assigned a lab partner. Today's topic was anatomical landmarks, and we were supposed to locate it on our partner.

I knew where all of them were on a skeleton, but it was really hard palpating to those corresponding regions on an actual person, and while I was able to find a good number of them, majority of them I had trouble finding, and it dampened my confidence. I'm worried that if I can't even locate landmarks right on a person, I'm screwed for the rest of the OMM year. I'm stressing out over this moreso than any of my other classes.

I don't know why I had a hard time when everyone else had a relatively easier time with this.
 
wxman393 said:
How do you know everyone else had an easier time? Step back and relax. This was your first OMM lab. You don't become a wizard overnight.


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To be fair, everyone else left earlier than I did. I was one of the final people who left. Also, my partner had an easier time locating stuff on me than I did on him.

Not that I'm trying to argue or disagree with you. You brought up a good point. I didn't think about the fact that other people may have had a hard time, too. I guess I was too focused on myself and that was my mistake.
 
Coming from experience, you do not need to be able to feel in order to pass (or get good grades) in OMM.
Unless it's something like palpating ASIS, PSIS, or spinal column, don't worry about it.
 
You're fine. I didn't develop a good palpatory skill until maybe the end of second semester. Keep going to lab and trying, and at some point, you'll just find that you can actually feel things now.
 
shadowlightfox said:
Today was my first OMM lab, and each of us was assigned a lab partner. Today's topic was anatomical landmarks, and we were supposed to locate it on our partner.

I knew where all of them were on a skeleton, but it was really hard palpating to those corresponding regions on an actual person, and while I was able to find a good number of them, majority of them I had trouble finding, and it dampened my confidence. I'm worried that if I can't even locate landmarks right on a person, I'm screwed for the rest of the OMM year. I'm stressing out over this moreso than any of my other classes.

I don't know why I had a hard time when everyone else had a relatively easier time with this.
Click to expand...
You'll get there man. A lot of people have good improv skills and act confident despite not knowing what they're doing. Keep working at it.
 
Don't stress too hard. Your palpatory skills will increase as you spend more and more time in the lab. What helped me the most was anatomy lab and my dissections. It was easier to visualize where the land marks are and now I don't even think twice about where something is.
 
Agree with all of the above --- quit stressing so much -- it's your first OMM lab --- if you've got a "well upholstered" partner, they'll be a little more difficult to find, likewise with a wellmuscled partner --- just chill, the only real landmarks I remember were things like the AC joint, PSIS, ASIS, tip of the sacrum, medial/lateral malleolus, etc. --- the rest of that stuff is really subjective to a certain degree -- I still can't tell you whether a sacral base is forward or backward with 100% certainty ---

it'll come with time --- and if it doesn't most of the times, there's no stress about it -- it's hard to get two examiners to agree on findings, much less 2 students -- you're good.
 
Wait until you have to find landmarks during gross anatomy dissection.....
 
Just pretend. Then, during your practical, gaze into your proctors eyes with confidence and say "Here it is" or finish a treatment with confidence.

When they tell you you're wrong, just say that faculty member X taught it to me this way.

Boom 100%
 
Thanks guys. I guess I overreacted. I'll keep practicing and hopefully I get better. The fact that only some of the landmarks are of vital importance makes me feel somewhat better.
 
I had trouble finding the landmarks on my first day of OMM, too. You'll be fine. Come to terms with the fact that some things will be more difficult for you than for your classmates, and vice versa (also half of them will be BSing you about how everything is obviously super easy for them). It helped me to try to find the more obvious landmarks on myself so I had a better idea of where to poke around on my partner. This part *will* become much more intuitive over time.
 
And FYI Medicare is looking for ways to NOT reimburse physicians for doing OMM.
 
shadowlightfox said:
Today was my first OMM lab, and each of us was assigned a lab partner. Today's topic was anatomical landmarks, and we were supposed to locate it on our partner.

I knew where all of them were on a skeleton, but it was really hard palpating to those corresponding regions on an actual person, and while I was able to find a good number of them, majority of them I had trouble finding, and it dampened my confidence. I'm worried that if I can't even locate landmarks right on a person, I'm screwed for the rest of the OMM year. I'm stressing out over this moreso than any of my other classes.

I don't know why I had a hard time when everyone else had a relatively easier time with this.
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You mean you didn't notice when everyone was faking that they felt what the teacher said?
 
i enjoy OMM, decide for yourself if you like it don't think you are cool if you don't use it or learn it
 
Give it a year. For sure don't start freaking out about the grade or passing, you should be able do fine 1st semester just learning where things are. You'll acquire palpation skills but will not be harshly graded on it to start
 
Consigliere said:
I'm working. I'll get to it when I can. Stop being so pushy or I'll just delete your PM.
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jVsx_q.gif
 
Drrrrrr. Celty said:
I could be wrong, but Medicare doesn't like paying for non EBM charges right?
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I've seen them get billed for opiods for chronic pain, which is even worse. So if that's the case then it's not consistently applied.
 
GUH said:
I've seen them get billed for opiods for chronic pain, which is even worse. So if that's the case then it's not consistently applied.
Click to expand...

Well we've only recently seen a change in the standard of care, switching to higher dose NSAIDS and less for opioids. But that being said opioids are proven via studies to provide relief. A lot of OMT we learn hasn't been.
 
My first day of OMM made me felt that I am going to fail that class, but actually we all did pretty good on it. It'll come to you after a week or two of rubbing and poking.
 
Is it okay to cram for OPP exams?
 
Jinxapotato said:
My first day of OMM made me felt that I am going to fail that class, but actually we all did pretty good on it. It'll come to you after a week or two of rubbing and poking.
Click to expand...

Yeah just gotta keep working on my poking skills and hope I improve.
 
Consigliere said:
Don't sweat it.......just fake your way through it. Most D.O.'s NEVER use OMM once they are done with residency anyway. I know I haven't for over 20 years....
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You're a DO?? I love it. Yeah OMM is absolute crap. Faked it for 2+ years now. Straight A's in OMM and no issues on COMLEX. Focus on actually reproducible science that people actually respect and can utilize.
 
Half the **** is made up, so just fake your way through it until the last day.
 
jw3600 said:
LOL. And you know this how? This is either a sarcastic post or just the prototypical DO delusion.
Click to expand...

I struggle to believe many things, that cranial bones move, that nontradca can be any more clearly sarcastic, and that you're for real.
 
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