Re: Intestines DO have nerves?...or...Intestines DO NOT have nerves?
From: chris smith (smithy@maine.rr.com)
Thu May 25 12:14:49 2000
At Tue, 23 May 2000, Helen Dynda wrote:
>
>Please read my message / question (below) which I have inserted within
>Chris's message!!
>
>` ` ` ` ` ` `
>
>At Tue, 23 May 2000, chris smith wrote:
>
>Chris Smith: I am doing okay. I had almost 100% pain relief from
>nortriptyline (pamelor, similar drug as elavil) I had to cut down from
>30mg to 20mg daily because of cardiac side effects. I recently when off
>the drug as an experiment and the pain is back, so its back on it again
>soon I guess. I don't really like it, which is why I'm trying to hold
>off. They think I have some kind of neuropathy, possibly viral, similar
>to what some people get after shingles. In my research I have found
>that you can get things like this even in the nerves of your intestines.
>
>~~~~~~~
>Helen D: It is my understanding that " our intestines DO NOT have
>nerves." When a person has adhesions - which involve the intestines - it
>is what the intestines are attached to that causes pain...NOT the
>intestines themselves!
>
>Please, can someone with a strong medical background respond to this?
>
>~~~~~~~~
>
>Chris: My reaction to the nortriptyline does make this a possiblity, as
>no other medication has worked as well. I don't know if it will ever go
>away, doesn't look like it, as its been 3 years in a few weeks. I
>agree, the fight doesn't seem like it will ever end, but who knows,
>strange things do happen. I guess nothing has changed with you, no
>surgery, etc?
>
>CHris S.
Hi!
I don't know the answer to this question. I'm sure it is a
technicality. Intestines are smooth muscles and one theory I have read
is that IBS is thought to happen when something affects 'the innervation
of the bowel" so whether this means nerves IN the bowel, or outside the
bowel I have no idea. I have read that the bowel can be cut in two with
no pain, that pain comes from distention of the gut. I also read on a
peripheral neuropathy website about the "nerves of the intestines" Not
much of what I say is an original thought, usually I have read it
somewhere. Also, I was talking about conditions that affect the nerves
causing pain, not adhesions on the intestines causing pain. So I don't
know the answer to this question but will look out for it in my reading.
Chris S.