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

Stomach pain and related issues can upset more than the stomach. The body is filled with nerves from the head to the toes, and the stomach is at the center of it all! The vagus nerve is one of the largest 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 disturbed by nausea, pain, delayed stomach emptying, and even vomiting. (1) Moriarty Chiropractic 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 Nashua stomach pain patients.

GASTROPARESIS

For those who experience gastroparesis, the symptoms may consist of a variety of problems they’d 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 explained and attached to the nervous system, particularly the vagal nerve that goes throughout the body. No matter what triggers gastroparesis, most patients demonstrated problems with the brain-gut innervation via the vagus nerve and/or intestinal nervous system. (2,3) Medical treatment thus far has been imperfect in its effect due to the physiological complexity of gastroparesis. (1) Nashua gastroparesis patients at Moriarty Chiropractic 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 said to be 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 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 linked, the brain and the gut! Adding slow breathing to taVNS showed promise in treating anxiety, chronic pain, depressive disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases, too. Researchers wrote that slow breathing regulated vagus nerve activity and decreased psychophysiological stimulation making it of use in behavioral medicine. (4) Moriarty Chiropractic offers that VNS may benefit Nashua chiropractic patients who experience gastroparesis and even chronic pain associated with back pain and/or neck pain.

SPINAL MANIPULATION

Your Nashua chiropractor is here to help with 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 experience digestion and/or nausea issues after eating. Drugs are often given. 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 Moriarty Chiropractic: spinal manipulation!

CONTACT Moriarty Chiropractic

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 Nashua chiropractic appointment with Moriarty Chiropractic. Bring your pain issues to us. We will design a treatment plan to help!