Stomach pain and related 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 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) Minster Chiropractic Center
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
Minster stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who suffer with gastroparesis,
the symptoms may include any number of
problems they would rather not have. Researchers explained
that any number of factors combined can trigger gastroparesis and impact
quality of life. The metabolic feedback link between the gut
and brain have been defined and attached
to the nervous system, particularly the vagal nerve that extends
throughout the body. Regardless of what causes
gastroparesis, most patients exhibited 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 due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Minster gastroparesis
patients at Minster Chiropractic Center 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 attempted 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 mimicked 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 addressing 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) Minster Chiropractic Center offers that VNS may benefit
Minster chiropractic patients who have
gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Minster chiropractor is here to help with chiropractic skills and treatments to help
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 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 Minster Chiropractic Center: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on the Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains
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 Minster
chiropractic appointment with Minster Chiropractic Center. Bring your pain issues to us. We
will design a treatment plan to help!