What is Crohn’s Disease (CD)?
Crohn’s Disease is considered an inflammatory bowel disease. What this means is that areas along the digestive tract can get swollen and develop ulcers. It can be anywhere in the digestive system, but is most common in the last part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine.
Diarrhea is the most common symptom with Crohn’s Disease. Sometimes individuals will have diarrhea up to 20 times per day. Other symptoms include abdominal pain with cramps, weight loss, and a lack of energy.
The pain usually begins within an hour of eating and is most often centered around the navel, the lower right abdomen, or both. Activities such as jogging will often make the pain worse. Another symptom that differentiate Crohn’s from ulcerative colitis is an area of swelling—found in about 25 percent of Crohn’s patients—that’s usually located in the lower right part of the abdomen.
Additionally, about 20 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of IBD, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn’s disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis
Research on Crohn’s Disease and Chiropractic
The gastrointestinal system is controlled by the nervous system. In fact, a recent research study from Japan states that there is a link between Crohn’s Disease and interference to the nervous system from spinal misalignments. The study involved over 4,000 patients and looked at the connection between spinal misalignments and impaired immune function. It went on to show how improving the spinal misalignments resulted in improvement and in some cases complete remission of the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease.
According to Dr. Yasuhiko Takeda, a chiropractor and lead author of the study: This is why it is so important to develop other means of dealing with this terrible disease. If we can find treatments that enhance the function of the immune and nervous systems perhaps we can help millions of people with this disease without the harmful side effects of drugs.
Apart from Crohn’s Disease there are multiple published peer reviewed studies showing improvements with other inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and even irritable bowel syndrome. Many of these studies have shown a link between spinal misalignments and patients with Crohn’s disease. One study postulated that the nerve compression resulting from a spinal misalignment can lead to a chronic functional disorder having a significant effect on digestion and the absorption of nutrients and liquids.
It should be encouraging to those suffering with Crohn’s Disease, to know that there are options for treatment of this condition that looks at improving what may be the cause as opposed to merely treating the symptoms.
Treatment for Crohn’s Disease in Augusta GA
Chiropractic care is the most effective treatment for spinal misalignments. As experienced chiropractors in Augusta GA, we are the only professionals specifically trained in the detection and correction of spinal misalignments. We have had great success in treating patients diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and these patients have had noticeable improvements in their symptoms.
With the research that has been conducted, we’ve been able to tailor our treatments to specifically address the areas of the spine that would affect the digestive tract associated with Crohn’s Disease. To find our if our specialized treatments would be appropriate for you, call us today or use our online request form for a complimentary consultation.
The Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic Blog is written by Dr. Mark Huntsman.
Augusta GA Chiropractors Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic provides customized treatments to Augusta GA, Martinez GA, and Evans GA patients. Visit the main website at www.georgia-clinic.com for a chiropractor in Augusta GA.
Choose several options to schedule your appointment: call (706) 814-5053 or use our online form.
