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 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 disturbed
by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
offers new studies about some less invasive potential
treatments like vagal nerve stimulation and even spinal manipulation that may
help calm the stomach and alleviate the upset for
Groton stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience gastroparesis,
the symptoms may consist of any number of
problems they’d like to 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, specifically the vagal nerve that extends
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 imperfect
in its effect due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Groton gastroparesis
patients at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office appreciate having some
options for helping them with this condition.
TREATMENTS FOR GASTROPARESIS: VNS
Researchers stated 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 tried 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 better regulated 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 demonstrated
promise in addressing anxiety, chronic pain, depressive
disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases, too. Researchers wrote
that slow breathing normalized vagus nerve activity and reduced
psychophysiological stimulation making it advantageous
in behavioral medicine. (4) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office offers that VNS may interest
Groton chiropractic patients with
gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Groton chiropractor wants
to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to assist
gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they come in all ages
– adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders involved
struggles 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 (a spot the vagal nerve reaches), electrical stimulation, diet changes, pro/prebiotics, etc., also now include
acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That is our experienced
skill at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on the Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains
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 Groton
chiropractic appointment with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office. Bring your pain issues to us. We’ll work up a treatment plan to help!