Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders Program

Conditions Treated in the Neurogastroenterology, Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Program

Our gastrointestinal motility program combines highly specialized testing with advanced treatments.

Conditions treated include:

• Disorders of the esophagus:
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD happens when partially digested food and stomach acid come up into the esophagus. This can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms, such as heartburn.
    
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing that may be related to conditions such as achalasia and scleroderma.
    
  • Chest pain: Chest pain not related to heart problems may be due to GERD, motility issues, or nerve hypersensitivity in your esophagus.
     
• Disorders of the stomach:
  • Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis happens when problems with the nerves or muscles of the stomach result in slow stomach emptying or digestion. Learn more about gastroparesis.
    
  • Functional dyspepsia: Persistent sensation in your upper GI tract, much of which is not part of the normal digestion process.
    
  • Chronic nausea: When you have chronic nausea, you experience a persistent queasy, unsettled feeling in your stomach.
     
• Disorders of the small bowel and colon:
  • Chronic diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea happens when you have frequent loose or watery stools lasting more than two weeks.
    
  • Chronic constipation: This condition occurs when you have infrequent or difficult bowel movements for a period of three or more months. Learn more about chronic constipation.
    
  • Irritable bowel syndrome: A group of symptoms you experience when nerves and muscles in your digestive tract misfire affecting sensitivity in your colon. This causes symptoms of abdominal pain/discomfort that is associated with a change in bowel habits. Learn more about irritable bowel syndrome.
    
  • Bowel obstruction: This condition occurs when nerves and brain signals prevent food from passing along your digestive tract, even though there is no physical blockage. Learn more about bowel obstruction.
     
• Disorders of the anus or rectum (anorectum):
  • Pelvic floor dyssynergia: Difficulty with bowel movements due to problems in coordination of your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor dyssynergia can affect both men and women.
    
  • Fecal incontinence: Leakage of stool that occurs in men and women due to weakness or dysfunction of the anal sphincter and/or pelvic floor muscles.