Juneau Spinal Manipulation and VNS May Help Gastroparesis (Stomach Issues)
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 extending 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) Aurora Chiropractic Center shares new studies regarding some less invasive potential treatments like vagal nerve stimulation and even spinal manipulation that may help calm the stomach and ease the upset for Juneau stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who suffer with 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 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 goes throughout the body. Regardless of what causes gastroparesis, most patients had problems with the brain-gut innervation via the vagus nerve and/or intestinal nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment so far has been limited in its effect due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Juneau gastroparesis patients at Aurora Chiropractic Center will like having some options for helping 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 explained 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 simulated 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 linked, 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 normalized vagus nerve activity and decreased psychophysiological stimulation making it useful in behavioral medicine. (4) Aurora Chiropractic Center offers that VNS may benefit Juneau chiropractic patients who experience gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Juneau chiropractor wants to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to assist gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they may be old or young – adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders involved 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 (a spot the vagal nerve reaches), electrical stimulation, diet changes, pro/prebiotics, etc., also now incorporate acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That is our experienced skill at Aurora Chiropractic Center: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Aurora 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 blend its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in relieving pain.
Make your next Juneau chiropractic appointment with Aurora Chiropractic Center. Bring your pain issues to us. We will design a treatment plan to help!