VA Augusta first VA in the nation to use innovative tech to reduce chronic pain

Media can coordinate a demonstration by emailing VhaAugPublicAffairs@va.gov

VA Augusta Health Care System is the first VA in the country to use Axon Therapy, which utilizes a high-powered device to target peripheral nerve stimulation to reduce chronic pain in Veterans. Non-invasive and painless, it’s more powerful than an electrical stimulation device and is 10,000 times stronger than any wearable magnetic device on the market today.

“Some of our Veterans have only needed to be treated a couple times and have seen such durable results, they haven’t needed to come back in for further treatment, said Dr. Marshall Bedder, a Navy combat Veteran and VA Augusta’s Chief of Pain Management.

Bedder, who also serves as an associate professor and director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship program at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, said Axon Therapy delivers strong magnetic, low-frequency pulsed stimulation to affected nerves leading to chronic pain.

“When you have chronic pain, pain messages are being sent to your brain every minute,” said Bedder. “Over time, it changes the synaptic makeup. When the Axon magnetic waveform comes in, evidence shows it reverses some of those negative synaptic connections that were formed from pain.”

Since May 2022, Bedder and his team have provided Axon Therapy to Veterans at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, and it’s proven to dramatically reduce neuropathic-related pain over long periods of time.

One combat Veteran traveled from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to VA Augusta to receive Axon Therapy for his chronic pain. The results, he said, were transformative, providing enough relief that he was able to perform a 110-kilometer bike ride alongside former President George W. Bush, who invites Veterans to his Texas ranch to do the extensive ride each year.

"It is very exciting to provide Veterans a safe alternative Therapy with sustained relief of pain and no risk of harmful side effects like those seen with opioids,” said Vanessa Croley, VA Augusta’s Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Coordinator. “This innovation brings new hope to Veterans and the loved ones who care for them."

Media seeking further information can contact Megan Kon, Public Affairs Specialist, at Megan.Kon@va.gov or Will Martin, Chief of Public Affairs, at William.Martin6@va.gov.

Megan Kon, Public Affairs Specialist, VA Southeast Network