Curbing Gastrointestinal Distress by Alleviating Spinal Nerve Compression

What do a belly ache, acid reflux, gas, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal distress have in common? Well, for starters, they can almost invariably be linked back to your spine – especially if they’re chronic concerns. That, and they’re uncomfortable to have to deal with on a daily basis.

The spine’s role in your stomach troubles isn’t one that you’re likely to understand without the help of a chiropractor. It’s hard to understand the wide-ranging effects compressed nerves can have on the body, much less how your spine is contributing to these nerve impediments. It’s not until they visit a chiropractor, receive a consultation, and experience an adjustment that long-time sufferers of gastrointestinal distress are able to correlate their spine’s role in gut health.

At Ideal Spine, part of our interaction with patients is education on the interconnected nature of the body through the central nervous system. Showing exactly how spinal misalignments affect nerves connected to the gut is an important step in introducing long-term solutions to gastrointestinal issues.

The problem with nerves

Every organ in our bodies functions by way of sending and receiving electrical impulses, transmitted via nerves to and from the brain. These impulses provide direction for the function of organs. When they’re blocked or improperly sent/received, it can cause problems.

For the gut especially, getting nerve signals in their full capacity is crucial. The stomach and intestines need to be able to properly digest food, while facilitating the process of absorbing nutrients and preparing waste. Without proper directions for how to do this, myriad problems can take shape. This is where many gastrointestinal conditions get their roots: namely irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and abdominal pain syndrome (APS).

Nerve-induced conditions will worsen with time if health and function aren’t restored to the affected nerve. This not only means more severe symptoms, but the prospect of permanent nerve damage.

Pinpointing nerve impediments

Faulty nerve signals most often meet their impediment between their point of origin and their destination. Considering the direct path of most nerve bundles is through the spine, it makes sense to conclude a problem here. Most often, it comes in the form of a pinched, blocked or displaced nerve.

Through palpitation of the spine and diagnostic imaging, chiropractors are able to track down exactly where nerve impediments are occurring. The lower thoracic spine and upper lumbar spine are common areas of interest, since a majority of abdominal organ nerves branch out from these segments. If subluxations do exist, it’s a smart bet they’re affecting the function of the organs the communicate with.

When impediments are found, a chiropractor will work to resolve them via adjustment. For example, subluxations may require simple drop table adjustments to ease the strain on nearby nerves. Compression issues may be treated with traction. In severe cases, nerves experiencing inflammation may require more complex treatment as defined by an ongoing Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) treatment plan.

Listen to your gut

If your gut aches or feels bloated after every meal you eat, regardless of what you had, it might be trying to tell you something. You can’t feel blocked nerve signals, but your gut definitely can. Listen to it when it’s trying to alert you to a problem.

At Ideal Spine, we strive to educate our patients on the links between gut health and spine health. For those with chronic gastrointestinal distress, the link soon becomes apparent once they’ve experienced the corrective possibilities of chiropractic adjustment!

Chiropractic BioPhysics® corrective care trained Chiropractors are located throughout the United States and in several international locations. CBP providers have helped thousands of people throughout the world realign their spine back to health, and eliminate a source of chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, chronic headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and a wide range of other health conditions. If you are serious about your health and the health of your loved ones, contact a CBP trained provider today to see if you qualify for care. The exam and consultation are often FREE. See www.CBPpatient.com for providers in your area.