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 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 disturbed
by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Back And Neck Care Center
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
Severna Park stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience 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 disrupt
quality of life. The metabolic feedback link between the gut
and brain have been explained and attached
to the nervous system, particularly the vagal nerve that travels
throughout the body. Regardless of 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 thus far has been limited
in its effect because of the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Severna Park gastroparesis
patients at Back And Neck Care Center will like knowing some
options for helping them with this condition.
TREATMENTS FOR GASTROPARESIS: VNS
Researchers stated 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 was reported to improve 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) enhanced
gastric frequency and controlled digestion. To the researchers,
this demonstrated that brain stimulation influenced gut function. (2) They are linked, the brain
and the gut! Using slow breathing with taVNS demonstrated
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 of use
in behavioral medicine. (4) Back And Neck Care Center offers that VNS may benefit
Severna Park chiropractic patients who have
gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain
and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Severna Park 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 include
problems with digestion issues. Children with functional
abdominal disorders experience 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 forte at Back And Neck Care Center: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Back And Neck Care 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 impact 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 Severna Park
chiropractic appointment with Back And Neck Care Center. Bring your pain issues to us. We’ll work up a treatment plan to help!