Montreal Spinal Manipulation and VNS May Help Gastroparesis (Stomach Issues)
Stomach pain and related 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 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 interrupted by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic offers 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 Montreal stomach pain patients.
GASTROPARESIS
For those who suffer with 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 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. 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) Montreal gastroparesis patients at Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic 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 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) enhanced gastric frequency and controlled digestion. To the researchers, this showed that brain stimulation had influence on gut function. (2) They are connected, 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 help in behavioral medicine. (4) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic offers that VNS may benefit Montreal chiropractic patients who have gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain and/or neck pain.
SPINAL MANIPULATION
Your Montreal 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 include 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 Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic: spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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 mix its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in relieving pain.
Schedule your next Montreal chiropractic appointment with Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic. Bring your pain issues to us. We will design a treatment plan to help!