Abdominal Pain & Visceral Manipulation - What To Know?

There is hardly any individual across the world, who has not experienced abdominal pain. In most instances, these aches are not very serious and can be diagnosed and treated by addressing the underlying condition. It is very crucial to recognize the symptoms which are severe and know when an individual should seek medical assistance. 

Most common causes of abdominal pain: 

Some of the most common causes of abdominal pain include indigestion, infection, menstrual cramps. It may also be due to food poisoning and allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, gas formation and bloating, lactose intolerance, pelvic inflammatory disease or ulcers and hernia, gallstones and kidney stones, urinary tract infection, Crohn’s Disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease & many more but most important reason is STRESS. It is well documented that stress/ our emotions have a great impact on how our body functions, and this is greatly due to how receptive organs are to our feelings. 

Different emotions affect different organs. Emotional reactions can translate into simple spasms in the gallbladder to heartburn, vomiting, feeling faint, ulcers, and serious diseases. 

When your brain receives negative emotions it sends tension to the related organ, the organ then sends tension back to the brain resulting in a vicious cycle. Conversely, a physically damaged or imbalanced organ can stimulate emotional upset. Visceral Manipulation can break this cycle, enhance the health of the organ, and restore emotional balance. Some patients have abdominal pain but the source of pain lies in the spine & any where else in the mental body. These patients are often seen by multiple doctors and have undergone many tests but their diagnosis is never established. These patients should visit a pain specialist to reach a diagnosis and treatment plan. They have conditions like neuropathies or facet joint arthritis which causes abdominal pain due to a condition known as referred pain. 

Symptoms of abdominal pain that are cause for concern: 

1. Abdominal pain along with any sign of dehydration or fever or is unable to pass stools. 
2. Abdominal pain associated with tenderness in the abdomen, painful and frequent urinations or persistent loose motions or bloody/ tarry stools. 
3. Severe or recurrent/undiagnosed abdominal pain. 

Determining the cause of abdominal pain and treating it:

1. Detailed medical history and thorough physical examination would be performed. Further tests like USG, Endoscopy etc may be needed to reach a diagnosis. 
2. The treatment of abdominal pain is entirely dependent on the cause of the pain. 

What is Visceral Manipulation- 

"Viscera" relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys and intestines. Visceral Manipulation is a gentle therapy that aids your body's ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. Visceral Manipulation, or VM, does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem. The VM therapist feels for altered or decreased motion within the viscera, as well as restrictive patterns throughout the body and then apply VM techniques. VM therapy re-establishes the body's ability to adapt and restore itself to health. 

Besides above mentioned reasons, VM is also effective in Chronic musculoskeletal pain Headaches and Migraines Sciatica Back, hip and knee pain Shoulder periarthritis and capsulitis Vertigo Post-surgical pain and Scar tissue Post-cardiac surgery Swallowing difficulties Acid Reflux and Heartburn Women's health issues including PCOD Bladder incontinence Crohn's Disease Liver disorders Digestive disorders Emotional disorders Anxiety and Depression Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and much more. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!