Williamson 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 at the center of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the biggest 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 disrupted by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Apple Country Chiropractic shares 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 Williamson stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience gastroparesis, the symptoms may consist of a variety of problems they would like to 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 defined and tied to the nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve that travels 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 limited in its effect because of the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Williamson gastroparesis patients at Apple Country Chiropractic appreciate knowing 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 said to be promising though. More invasive surgical stimulation of the vagus nerve has been tried with some success. New, non-invasive approaches 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) enhanced 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 showed promise in treating anxiety, chronic pain, depressive disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases, too. Researchers explained that slow breathing regulated vagus nerve activity and decreased psychophysiological stimulation making it of help in behavioral medicine. (4) Apple Country Chiropractic offers that VNS may benefit Williamson chiropractic patients with gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Williamson chiropractor is here to help with chiropractic skills and treatments to help 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 (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 Apple Country Chiropractic: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
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.
Schedule your next Williamson chiropractic appointment with Apple Country Chiropractic. Bring your pain issues to us. We’ll design a treatment plan to help!