Hey KatieJune
Don't worry about asking questions. This is how the public becomes educated. I'm neither a DO nor a DO student, but I aspire to be. I'll tell you what I know.
First off, Osteopathic Physicians have the title DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), not OD. OD is reserved for optometrists.
The other poster is correct in saying that the only limitation for DO's vs. MD's is the ability to practice anywhere overseas. DO's can practice full scope medicine in a lot of countries, limited scope (usually meaning physical manipulation and no surgery, no prescriptions) in others and cannot practice at all in a small minority.
Other than that, DO's can enter any specialty of medicine that MD's do (Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, OB/GYN, Emergency Medicine, etc.). They do the same residencies with MD residents and also with other DO's in DO affiliated residencies and have all of the same rights and responsibilities.
DO's also learn something called OMM (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine...it has other names as well). I'm no expert, but I believe it utilizes physical manipulation of the musculoskeletal system to improve certain conditions. DO's and DO students would have a better grasp on this (I'm a podiatrist). There are also more DO's who practice primary care medicine compared with MD's.
There are books that you can read that will give you a good perspective on DO's and their history. Look under "osteopathic" on Amazon.com
