IBS Is Associated With Physical Changes To The Brain

[tex]

Hi All,

The article at the link below, discussing a research project that concluded that IBS involves physical changes to the brain, contains the following observation:

The study on IBS suggests that, like these other conditions, the problem may be due to the brain's inability to inhibit the pain response.

OK, assuming that the "problem" referred to is the combined symptoms of IBS, then whether or not the brain has the ability to inhibit the pain response, seems somewhat irrelevant, since the fact that the pain response exists in the first place, suggests that some physical issue initially triggered that pain. Now I'll grant you that a continued, (inappropriate), brain pain response can "artificially" perpetuate pain, but that doesn't detract from the fact that the initial pain was almost surely real, and not created in the brain. (After all, if it is "all in the patient's head", then that contradicts another quote from the article):

"Also, the findings remove the idea once and for all that IBS symptoms are not real and are 'only psychological.' The findings will give us more insight into better understanding IBS."

http://www.latimes.com/news/health/boos ... 9726.story

The unanswered question, of course, is "Does IBS cause brain changes, or does this pattern of brain changes cause IBS? And, of course, the big question is, "Do all chronic digestive issues, (including IBDs, celiac disease, etc.), involve physical changes to the brain? I haven't seen any research connecting IBDs or celiac disease, with any physical brain changes, (but maybe I just haven't been able to locate them).

Tex

[Rosie]

Well, that's really a "duh" finding. Of course if there were chronic pain there would be changes in the brain associated with recognizing it and responding. And why would it be considered "a problem" if the brain is unable to inhibit the pain response. If the pain is there, of course the brain is going to continue to react. I guess it's good that they have established that the patients aren't imagining their pain, so that they aren't treated like nutcases when they continue to complain.

I was also struck by this quote from the article:

Irritable bowel syndrome has been a tough disorder to understand. Studies have failed to show any structural problems in the gut that would account for the symptoms of pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation.

We now know that a large percentage of those diagnosed with IBS turn out to have MC when biopsied. I wonder if MC is like CD in that the early stages don't show the diagnostic histological changes, and that many of these early cases are misdiagnosed as IBS? It seems to me that the biopsies aren't nearly as sensitive as the stool tests for gluten, dairy and food sensitivities. It's a real shame that these stool tests aren't accepted by the mainstream docs yet. Hasn't Dr. Fine done some research (unpublished) in this area?

Rosie

[tex]

Rosie,

I initially wrote the title to my post as, "Why IBS will continue to be misunderstood." I thought maybe that was a bit too judgmental, so I changed it, before I submitted it.

Hasn't Dr. Fine done some research (unpublished) in this area?

He's done a lot of valuable research, and some of it is available on the web, but since he's not willing to kiss the right asses in the medical pecking order hierarchy, and he follows a lifestyle and professional career program that many in the "Good old Boy's Club" look down their noses at, (I'm sure they consider him to be a "radical"), he is effectively locked out of the important peer-reviewed medical publications. Apparently, freedom of speech does not exist in the medical community, unless what is being said, supports current policy. (Remember: Status and honoraria go to those who support the current guidelines.)

Tex

P. S. Thanks for the rare opportunity to emphasize my current tag line.