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La Grande 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) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC offers new studies about some less invasive potential treatments like vagal nerve stimulation and even spinal manipulation that may help calm the stomach and relieve the upset for La Grande stomach pain patients.

GASTROPARESIS

For those who suffer with gastroparesis, the symptoms may include a variety 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 defined and tied to the nervous system, specifically the vagal nerve that extends throughout the body. No matter what causes gastroparesis, most patients experienced 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 imperfect in its effect because of the complexity of physiology of gastroparesis. (1) La Grande gastroparesis patients at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC appreciate knowing some options that may help 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 mimicked 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 linked, the brain and the gut! Adding slow breathing to taVNS showed promise in addressing 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 of use in behavioral medicine. (4) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC offers that VNS may benefit La Grande chiropractic patients who have gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain and/or neck pain.

SPINAL MANIPULATION

Your La Grande 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 include struggles with digestion issues. Children with functional abdominal disorders experience 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’s our forte at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC: spinal manipulation!

CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

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 combine its stimulation with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in relieving pain.       

Make your next La Grande chiropractic appointment with Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. Bring your pain issues to us. We will work up a treatment plan to help!

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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."