Stomach pain and associated issues can upset
more than the stomach. The body is filled with 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 spreading
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) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
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
Carrolltown stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who suffer with gastroparesis,
the symptoms may include a variety 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 connection 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 demonstrated problems
with the brain-gut innervation via the vagus nerve and/or intestinal
nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment thus far has been limited
in its effect due to the complexity
of physiology of gastroparesis. (1) Carrolltown gastroparesis
patients at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation will like having 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 tried with some success. New, non-invasive methods
incorporated the use of a self-administered vagal nerve
stimulator that was reported to improve gastric emptying
for some. (1) Such a stimulator simulated 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 better regulated digestion. To the researchers,
this showed that brain stimulation influenced gut function. (2) They are linked, the brain
and the gut! Adding slow breathing to taVNS showed
promise in addressing 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) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation offers that VNS may benefit
Carrolltown chiropractic patients with
gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Carrolltown chiropractor is here to help with chiropractic skills and treatments to assist
gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they come in all ages
– adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders include
struggles with digestion issues. Children with functional
abdominal disorders have digestion and/or nausea issues after
eating. Drugs are often prescribed. Non-drug treatments like
stimulation to the external ear (an area the vagal nerve reaches), electrical stimulation, diet changes, pro/prebiotics, etc., also now incorporate
acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That is our forte at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on the Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains
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 Carrolltown
chiropractic appointment with Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation. Bring your pain issues to us. We
will design a treatment plan to help!