How is the vagus nerve damaged?

[DaveT81]

Hi, quick question - can the vagus nerve be damaged by outside means?

I ask this as I have afib and a lot of my afib is triggered vagally. Had an ablation in June 2017 and have suffered with ectopics on and off since.

However, I have had a lot health issues come up in the last 6-7 months and I am worried that I have some vagus nerve irritation or damage. The main problem I have is a severe breathing issue. I also have digestive issues I didn't have this time last year. I literally had a stomach made of iron, now I'm constantly gassy, bloated, etc.

Anyway - I was seeing a physio a couple of years ago who advised me to apply a hot water bottle to the back of my neck for 20 minutes, 2 times a day for neck pain and neurological symptoms I was having. There wasn't much else she could do for me.

I did this for about 14 months. Hot water bottle every night for 20 minutes on the back of my neck.

My question - is it possible that this has irritated or even caused damage to the vagus nerve?

Apologies, I know this isn't 100% afib related but as an afibber myself it seemed the most appropriate place to ask it.

[Hidden]

EngMac posts about chiropractic therapy, neck problems and vagally mediated AF.

The pneumogastric nerve (cranial nerve X or Vagus nerve) originates in the brain and traverses the cervical spine.

Separately I believe ablation can occasionally cause vagal nerve damage.

[DaveT81 in reply to Hidden]

I had initially wondered if it was my ablation. But my current symptoms didn't start until about 7-8 months later.

Thanks for your reply!

[Hidden in reply to DaveT81]

Do have a word with EngMac. I’m sure he would be happy to receive a Chat personal message as linked at the top of the page. Also see my edited post with caveat.

[CDreamer]

I think it is more likely that your Autonomic System as a whole could be compromised. Vagal tone is a good indicator and that is measured by HRV. There is also a huge connection between gut and brain called the gut/brain axis so that if you have gut issues that can be the underlying cause of lots of other issues. Athletes use HRV as an indicator of fitness, endurance and well being. If you have an iWatch you will see that it will give you HRV numbers.

heartmath.org/articles-of-t...

What sort of breathing issues do you have? The phrenic nerve can be damaged during ablation and that controls your diaphragm - which can cause breathing issues however it often heals itself and as your ablation was 2017 I would have thought that would have healed by now.

There is a lot you can do to improve your vagal tone - breathing techniques, cold water showers, regular humming or singing etc

bottomlineinc.com/health/we...

I have regular Chiropractic adjustments for my neck and I have had them stop an episode when the thoracic area was adjusted around where the vagal nerve passes through the spine.

The adjustments had no overall affect in stopping the AF episodes starting although they do sort out my neck so I don’t have neck pain and migraine like headaches. My energy levels also increase after adjustments. Posture also has a huge affect so improving core strength is also incredibly beneficial overall.

Best wishes CD

[DaveT81 in reply to CDreamer]

I'm thinking a visit to a chiro may be on the horizon. I was seeing one a few years ago for neuro symptoms but ended up trailing off as didn't feel it was doing too much at the time.

[secondtry]

Hi Dave, no technical advice here but I have vagally mediated Lone PAF and went on a mission to sort my gut and head (mentally not physically) out - both these plus the heart are on the Vagus highway. I think the answer lies with you persistently testing what feels better yourself and consulting an experienced Alternative Practitioner.

Not sure about hot water bottles on the neck, we are all different and when I go to bed a cold pillow has always relaxed me more. Good luck, keep trying I have been down plenty of dead ends but after 5 years I have excellent QOL thanks to this and no doubt Flecainide.

[JonathanPittsCrick]

The vagus nerve runs down the front of your neck (next to your carotid artery (where you can feel a pulse) so heat on the back of the neck is very unlikely to affect it.

[DaveT81 in reply to JonathanPittsCrick]

Ah, OK - I knew it ran through the neck, just wasn't sure where about.

A lot of my current symptoms appear to be some form of nerve damage so I'm curious as to how VN can be irritated.

[JonathanPittsCrick in reply to DaveT81]

There's a strong interaction between digestion and the heart because the vagus nerve controls both – so if one gets upset, it upsets the other. And breathing too much can upset both. Nerve damage is actually pretty rare – much more likely is a problem with the complex control systems that drive the nerves.

Another important issue can be side-effects of medications, so it's worthwhile checking with your Dr if that could be a factor.