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!