Auburn Spinal Manipulation and VNS May Help Gastroparesis (Stomach Issues)
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 at the center of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the biggest 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 disrupted by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 Auburn stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who experience gastroparesis, the symptoms may include a variety of problems they would rather not have. Researchers explained that any number of factors combined can trigger gastroparesis and impact quality of life. The metabolic feedback connection 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 exhibited problems with the brain-gut innervation via the vagus nerve and/or intestinal nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment thus far has been limited in its effect due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Auburn gastroparesis patients at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. will like having 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 explained as promising though. More invasive surgical stimulation of the vagus nerve has been attempted with some success. New, non-invasive approaches incorporated the use of 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) helped gastric frequency and better regulated digestion. To the researchers, this showed that brain stimulation had influence on gut function. (2) They are linked, the brain and the gut! Using slow breathing with 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 reduced psychophysiological stimulation making it of help in behavioral medicine. (4) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. offers that VNS may interest Auburn chiropractic patients with gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Auburn chiropractor wants to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to help gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they may be old or young – adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders include problems 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 extends to), electrical stimulation, diet changes, pro/prebiotics, etc., also now incorporate acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation. (5) That is our experienced skill at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
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 Auburn chiropractic appointment with Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.. Bring your pain issues to us. We will work up a treatment plan to help!