Groton Spinal Manipulation and VNS May Help Gastroparesis (Stomach Issues)

Stomach pain and associated issues can upset more than the stomach. The body is filled with nerves from the head to the toes, and the stomach is in the middle of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the biggest nerves spreading from the brainstem to the abdomen. What is in the middle of the abdomen? The stomach! (Talk about a brain-gut connection!) Gastroparesis sufferers’ days are disturbed by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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 Groton stomach pain patients.

GASTROPARESIS

For those who experience gastroparesis, the symptoms may consist of any number of problems they’d like to not have. Researchers explained that any number of factors combined can trigger gastroparesis and impact quality of life. The metabolic feedback link 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 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 imperfect in its effect due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Groton gastroparesis patients at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office appreciate having some options for helping them with this condition.

TREATMENTS FOR GASTROPARESIS: VNS

Researchers stated that medical therapy has been limited in its ability to help. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) was described as promising though.  More invasive surgical stimulation of the vagus nerve has been tried with some success. New, non-invasive approaches included using 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) improved gastric frequency and better regulated digestion. To the researchers, this demonstrated that brain stimulation had influence on gut function. (2) They are linked, the brain and the gut! Adding slow breathing to taVNS demonstrated promise in addressing 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 advantageous in behavioral medicine. (4) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office offers that VNS may interest Groton chiropractic patients with gastroparesis and even chronic pain related to back pain and/or neck pain.

SPINAL MANIPULATION

Your Groton chiropractor wants to use the chiropractic skills and treatments to assist gastroparesis sufferers, too! And they come in all ages – adults and kids. Pediatric functional abdominal disorders involved 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office: spinal manipulation!

CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office

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 Groton chiropractic appointment with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office. Bring your pain issues to us. We’ll 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."