Stomach pain and related issues can upset
more than the stomach. The body is full of nerves from the
head to the toes, and the stomach is in the middle of it all!
The vagus nerve is one of the biggest nerves extending
from the brainstem to the abdomen. What is
in the middle of the abdomen? The stomach! (Talk about a brain-gut
connection!) Gastroparesis sufferers’ days are disrupted
by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation
shares new studies regarding some less invasive potential
treatments like vagal nerve stimulation and even spinal manipulation that may
help calm the stomach and relieve the upset for
Tonawanda stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience gastroparesis,
the symptoms may consist of any number of
problems they would like to not have. Researchers explained
that any number of factors combined can trigger gastroparesis and disrupt
quality of life. The metabolic feedback connection between the gut
and brain have been defined and tied
to the nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve that extends
throughout the body. No matter what triggers
gastroparesis, most patients exhibited problems
with the brain-gut innervation by means of the vagus nerve and/or intestinal
nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment thus far has been imperfect
in its effect because of the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Tonawanda gastroparesis
patients at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation will like knowing some
options for helping them with this condition.
TREATMENTS FOR GASTROPARESIS: VNS
Researchers noted that medical therapy has been
limited in its ability to help. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) was
described as promising though. More invasive surgical stimulation of the vagus
nerve has been attempted with some success. New, non-invasive methods
incorporated the use of a self-administered vagal nerve
stimulator that reported improved gastric emptying
for some. (1) Such a stimulator mimicked the surgical cervical
vagal nerve stimulation. (4) Stimulating vagal afferents with transcutaneous (through
the skin) auricular (ear) vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) helped
gastric frequency and better regulated digestion. To the researchers,
this showed that brain stimulation influenced gut function. (2) They are connected, the brain
and the gut! Adding slow breathing to taVNS showed
promise in treating anxiety, chronic pain, depressive
disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases, too. Researchers wrote
that slow breathing regulated vagus nerve activity and reduced
psychophysiological stimulation making it of help
in behavioral medicine. (4) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation offers that VNS may benefit
Tonawanda chiropractic patients who experience
gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Tonawanda chiropractor wants
to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to help
gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they may be old or young
– adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders involved
problems with digestion issues. Children with functional
abdominal disorders have digestion and/or nausea issues after
eating. Drugs are often given. Non-drug treatments like
stimulation to the external ear (a spot the vagal nerve reaches), electrical stimulation, diet changes, pro/prebiotics, etc., also now incorporate
acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That is our experienced
skill at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on the Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
the vagus nerve, its impact on the nervous system, and how to blend
its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in
relieving pain.
Make your next Tonawanda
chiropractic appointment with Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation. Bring your pain issues to us. We
will design a treatment plan to help!