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Burlington and Hamilton Spinal Manipulation and VNS May Help Gastroparesis (Stomach Issues)

Stomach pain and associated issues can upset more than the stomach. The body is full of nerves from the head to the toes, and the stomach is at the center of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the biggest nerves spreading from the brainstem to the abdomen. What’s 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) Spinal Care Clinic offers new studies about some less invasive potential treatments like vagal nerve stimulation and even spinal manipulation that may help calm the stomach and ease the upset for Burlington and Hamilton stomach pain patients.

GASTROPARESIS

For those who suffer with 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 impact quality of life. The metabolic feedback link between the gut and brain have been described and tied to the nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve that goes throughout the body. Regardless of what triggers gastroparesis, most patients experienced problems with the brain-gut innervation via the vagus nerve and/or intestinal nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment so far has been limited in its effect due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Burlington and Hamilton gastroparesis patients at Spinal Care Clinic will like having some options that may help them with this condition.

TREATMENTS FOR GASTROPARESIS: VNS

Researchers noted that medical therapy has been reduced in its ability to help. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) was described as promising though.  More invasive surgical stimulation of the vagus nerve has been tried with some success. New, non-invasive approaches incorporated the use of a self-administered vagal nerve stimulator that was reported to improve 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) improved gastric frequency and controlled digestion. To the researchers, this demonstrated 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 normalized vagus nerve activity and reduced psychophysiological stimulation making it useful in behavioral medicine. (4) Spinal Care Clinic offers that VNS may interest Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients who experience gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain and/or neck pain.

SPINAL MANIPULATION

Your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor wants to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to assist gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they come in all ages – 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 extends to), electrical stimulation, diet changes, pro/prebiotics, etc., also now include acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That’s our experienced skill at Spinal Care Clinic: spinal manipulation!

CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the vagus nerve, its impact on the nervous system, and how to combine its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in relieving pain.       

Make your next Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment with Spinal Care Clinic. Bring your pain issues to us. We will work up a treatment plan to help!

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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."