Esophageal Motility Disorder in St. Louis, MO
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Find a ProviderWhat exactly is esophageal motility disorder?
Esophageal motility disorder, or esophageal dysmotility, is where the musculature of the esophagus fails to contract and therefore the esophagus cannot properly transport liquids or food to your stomach. Esophageal motility disorder can also be used as a group term for swallowing disorders as a whole, which could include the following conditions:
- Achalasia
- Nutcracker esophagus
- Diffuse esophageal spasm
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Inefficient esophageal motility disorder
- Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
It can also refer to secondary esophageal motility disorders related to:
- Diabetes
- Mellitus
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Scleroderma
If you have trouble with swallowing, it could be due to esophageal motility disorder. Request a consultation with a Specialists in Gastroenterology location in your community to get help. Our skilled GI providers treat and manage esophageal motility disorder for individuals throughout St. Louis, MO.
What are some of the causes of esophageal motility disorder?
There is no single, primary cause for esophageal motility disorder. The root causes are always unique to the specific condition you have, but typically include:
- Malignant or benign strictures
- Neurological problems
- Spasms of the esophagus
- Esophageal muscle weakness
- Neuromuscular disorder
What are some of the symptoms of esophageal motility disorder?
Symptoms can vary from person to person depending on what condition they have. A few of the common signs and symptoms of esophageal motility disorder in St. Louis, MO patients include:
- Anxiety
- Pain in the chest
- Difficulty swallowing
- Recurrent pneumonia
- The sensation of food blocking your neck or chest
- Acid reflux and heartburn
- Low-quality sleep
- Regurgitation
- Loss of weight
What are the treatments for esophageal motility disorder?
Your Specialists in Gastroenterology provider will recommend the best treatment for you based on your symptoms. The most common methods for treating esophageal motility disorder might include (but are not limited to):
- Balloon dilation of the lower esophagus to disrupt the abnormal obstructing sphincter
- Surgical manipulation of the valve at the lower esophageal sphincter to reduce the amount of pressure on the muscle
- Heller myotomy (the division of the esophageal sphincter muscle to permit passage of food)
- Botulinum toxin or Botox® injection in the affected areas
- Medications targeting muscle spasms
Clinical trials are constantly being performed to find groundbreaking types of treatment and to improve upon types of treatment that already exist. You can trust our team to partner with you to put you and your gastrointestinal health first.
Innovative treatments for esophageal motility disorder
The specialists at a Specialists in Gastroenterology location in your community continue to research esophageal motility disorder in addition to many other conditions that impact the gastrointestinal tract. If you are struggling with symptoms, like difficulty swallowing, acid reflux, regurgitation, and chest pain, we ask that you request a consultation with a local GI provider at your nearest Specialists in Gastroenterology location as soon as possible. We apply a compassionate and patient-centric philosophy to managing and treating esophageal motility disorder in St. Louis, MO patients.
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