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 extending
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) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
offers 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
McHenry stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience 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 disrupt
quality of life. The metabolic feedback connection between the gut
and brain have been defined and attached
to the nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve that extends
throughout the body. Regardless of 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 so far has been imperfect
in its effect because of the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) McHenry gastroparesis
patients at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic will like knowing 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
said to be promising though. More invasive surgical stimulation of the vagus
nerve has been attempted with some success. New, non-invasive approaches
included using 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) 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! Using slow breathing with 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 decreased
psychophysiological stimulation making it of help
in behavioral medicine. (4) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic offers that VNS may benefit
McHenry chiropractic patients with
gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your McHenry chiropractor is here to help with chiropractic skills and treatments to help
gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they may be old or young
– adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders include
struggles 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 (an area 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 OrthoIllinois Chiropractic: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
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 McHenry
chiropractic appointment with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic. Bring your pain issues to us. We
will work up a treatment plan to help!