Carrolltown Spinal Manipulation and VNS May Help Gastroparesis (Stomach Issues)
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 at the center of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the largest 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 interrupted by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Gormish Chiropractic & 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 Carrolltown stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience gastroparesis, the symptoms may include a variety of problems they would rather 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 explained and tied to the nervous system, particularly the vagal nerve that travels throughout the body. No matter what causes gastroparesis, most patients experienced 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 physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Carrolltown gastroparesis patients at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation appreciate knowing some options that may help 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 said to be 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 simulated the surgical cervical vagal nerve stimulation. (4) Stimulating vagal afferents with transcutaneous (through the skin) auricular (ear) vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) enhanced gastric frequency and controlled digestion. To the researchers, this demonstrated that brain stimulation had influence on gut function. (2) They are linked, 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 explained that slow breathing regulated 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 who have gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to 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 involved problems with digestion issues. Children with functional abdominal disorders experience digestion and/or nausea issues after eating. Drugs are often prescribed. 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 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 shares the vagus nerve, its influence on the nervous system, and how to mix its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in relieving pain.
Schedule your next Carrolltown chiropractic appointment with Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation. Bring your pain issues to us. We will design a treatment plan to help!