Stomach pain and associated issues can upset
more than the stomach. The body is full of 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 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) Wilson Family 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
Millville 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 disrupt
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 extends
throughout the body. No matter what causes
gastroparesis, most patients demonstrated problems
with the brain-gut innervation via the vagus nerve and/or intestinal
nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment thus far has been imperfect
in its effect due to the complexity
of physiology of gastroparesis. (1) Millville gastroparesis
patients at Wilson Family Chiropractic will like having some
options that may help 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 methods
included using a self-administered vagal nerve
stimulator that reported improved 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) helped
gastric frequency and controlled digestion. To the researchers,
this demonstrated that brain stimulation had
influence on 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 wrote
that slow breathing regulated vagus nerve activity and decreased
psychophysiological stimulation making it advantageous
in behavioral medicine. (4) Wilson Family Chiropractic offers that VNS may benefit
Millville chiropractic patients who experience
gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Millville 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 have digestion and/or nausea issues after
eating. Drugs are often given. 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 incorporate
acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That’s our experienced
skill at Wilson Family Chiropractic: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic
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 mix
its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in
relieving pain.
Make your next Millville
chiropractic appointment with Wilson Family Chiropractic. Bring your pain issues to us. We
will work up a treatment plan to help!