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!