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!