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New Roads 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 in the middle of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the largest 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) New Roads Chiropractic Center shares new studies regarding some less invasive potential treatments like vagal nerve stimulation and even spinal manipulation that may help calm the stomach and ease the upset for New Roads stomach pain patients.

GASTROPARESIS

For those who suffer with gastroparesis, the symptoms may include any number of problems they’d rather 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 defined and tied to the nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve that travels throughout the body. No matter what causes gastroparesis, most patients had problems with the brain-gut innervation by means of the vagus nerve and/or intestinal nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment so far has been limited in its effect due to the complexity of physiology of gastroparesis. (1) New Roads gastroparesis patients at New Roads Chiropractic Center appreciate knowing some options for helping 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 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 reported improved 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) helped gastric frequency and controlled 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 demonstrated promise in treating anxiety, chronic pain, depressive disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases, too. Researchers explained that slow breathing normalized vagus nerve activity and decreased psychophysiological stimulation making it useful in behavioral medicine. (4) New Roads Chiropractic Center offers that VNS may benefit New Roads chiropractic patients who experience gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain and/or neck pain.

SPINAL MANIPULATION

Your New Roads chiropractor wants to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to assist gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they may be old or young – adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders include 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 is our forte at New Roads Chiropractic Center: spinal manipulation!

CONTACT New Roads Chiropractic Center

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

Schedule your next New Roads chiropractic appointment with New Roads Chiropractic Center. Bring your pain issues to us. We’ll design 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."