Let’s chat about anatomy first, where is the appendix? The appendix is attached to the beginning of the cecum, however there are anatomical variations where it can be medial, lateral anterior or posterior to the cecum. in pregnancy, it can actually be pushed into the upper part of your abdomen. The average size of the appendix is 9 to 10cm in length and 0.5 to 1cm in diameter. The blood supply comes from its one artery which is a branch of the ileocolic artery. What’s most important is that is it made of lymphoid tissue which suggests that it plays a role in immune function.
There is also a valve called the ileocecal valve which is very close to the appendix and hard to differentiate. The ileocecal valve is a valve between the small and large intestine that prevents material from flowing back into the small intestine. There can be dysfunction in this valve as well, it can be open or closed. Open means toxic waste can be flowing back into your body, and closed can mean blockage of waste. It’s important to differentiate between the two, either the appendix or ileocecal valve.
Acute Appendicitis
You’ve heard of this before, when someone has excruciating pain in the lower abdomen, or even the right side and back. This is the most common surgical emergency having an incidence rate of over 700,000. Another statistic, 7% of persons in Western countries have at some times in their life experienced appendicitis (males more common than females). 80% of it’s occurrence is in people younger than 45.
Since this organ has lymphatic tissue in it, it is hypothesized that it is also a major immune organ. A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that individuals in the study 40 and younger who had their appendix removed had an increase in stomach cancer and a borderline increase in non Hodgkins Lymphoma that occurred 15 years after removal.
Causes?
-Inflammation from bacterial, viral or parasitic infection
-food allergy
-food poisoning
-fecalith (hard stony mass in feces) is approximately 35% of acute cases
-tumors, calculi, foreign bodies
-barium can occlude the lumen and cause appendicitis
-NSAIDS
-antibiotics
What Happens?
When the inside of the appendix is obstructed, the situation can deteriorate pretty quickly usually within 24 to 36 hours. This causes a buildup of pressure and the appendix becomes hypoxic. This causes the mucus to ulcerate and bacteria can invade which causes more swelling, more loss of blood flow, necrosis and gangrene.
What about chronic or subacute appendicitis?
Chronic or subacute appendicitis is a frequent cause of low back, sciatic type and pelvic pain although little research has been focused in this issue.
What are some indicators for subacute appendicitis?
-low back and pelvic pain
-hip flexor weakness
-shoulder trapezius pain
-increased sweating, body rashes
-placatory pain in lower right quadrant
Other than surgery, what are the options?
You must do a physical exam to determine what the actual cause of pain is. An SOT practitioner can calm down the area by using what is called CMRT (chiropractic manipulative reflex technique). This technique increases the rest and digest parasympathetic nervous system, to allow the area to calm down and unspasm, and for blood flow to return.
You also must take into play clinical nutrition, and rule out parasitic, amoeba, dysbiosis, food poisoning, food allergy, or pharmaceutical. The best way to test for parasites is by stool examination. A comprehensive stool examination is done by Genova in my office which also isolates the parasite and tests in a lab setting its susceptibility to natural agents. It’s pretty cool.
Food allergies can create a chronic inflammatory state. They must be detected and eliminated from the diet. This is best accomplished through blood tests, I use a highly effective lab called meridian valley that tests over 300 foods as well as screens for systemic Candida infections, which can cause dysbiosis.
Short term diet restrictions
Eat Bland foods
mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, oatmeal, beets
Avoid
fried foods, chocolate, peanuts, crude fiber
Emotional triggers??
Emotional stress is a major contributor in ANY irritable bowel condition. Stress causes an increase in the sympathetic nervous system. This can cause an acute episode. Neuro emotional technique developed by Scott Walker DC is effective in eliminating the physiological conditioned response to specific stressors. I use it frequently in the office.
Of course, if the pain isn’t significantly decreased in the office visit, and the pain is acute, we must send out for emergency care, however, the appendix is a vital organ just like all our organs, so alternative methods are always preferred, and usually the cause is never really determined through emergency care.
I hope you enjoyed this topic, I enjoyed sharing it.
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