Axon - Drug Free Chronic Pain Therapy

How it works:

Axon allows your clinician to prescribe a series of EEG Neurofeedback treatment sessions you can undertake at your convenience in the comfort of your own home.

This involves you wearing Axon – a custom-designed EEG headset that passively reads the electrical activity associated with pain in your brain.

This data is transmitted wirelessly to an app on your mobile device and is visually represented in the app via neurological exercises (in the form of simple animated games) undertaken by you. These exercises take 31-35 minutes and are repeated several times a week in the first eight - twelve weeks.

Through real-time visual feedback, you can learn to neuromodulate how your brain interprets pain signals, thereby reducing the pain.

By using the Axon system on a regular basis (about 31-35 minutes per day) over the course of several weeks, you can learn how to ‘retrain’ how your brain perceives and responds to pain. This process is called “neuromodulation”.

PhysioFunction can assess in person for suitability of Axon. The cost of assessment is £90.00. 

An annual subscription for Axon is priced at £1148.00 plus fitting (£90) for the first year. (With a valid Vat waiver)

• This includes the Axon Headset at £728 and your first 12-months reduced subscription at £420 (12 months subscription at £35 per month).

A monthly subscription for Axon is priced at £774.00 plus fitting (£90) for the first month. (With a valid Vat waiver)

• This includes the Axon Headset at £728 and one-month subscription at £46.
• Follow on monthly subscriptions are £46 per month

• In the UK a prescription isn’t required but we do like to inform your family doctor that you are using Axon.

More about Purchasing Axon.

• Axon is a pain management system.
• The initial treatment phase is 8 to 12 weeks long and you need to commit to using Axon for 30 minutes per day, 4 or 5 days per week for that period.
• Once the initial treatment is completed most people use Axon 2 or 3 times a week to maintain the benefits.

After your initial software subscription.

• Remember you will need to purchase an additional software subscription either monthly or annually depending on your preference.

System Requirements.

• You will need a smart phone or tablet with iOS/IPadOS 16 or later or Andriod 9 or later.

Harnessing the Power of EEG Neurofeedback in Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain is a pervasive and challenging condition which affects millions of individuals worldwide, often diminishing their quality of life. Traditional approaches to chronic pain management primarily involves medications which can be addictive and cause other medical issues/side effects. An emerging technology which offers an innovative alternative is EEG (Electroencephalogram) neurofeedback. This is a non-invasive pain management technique that addresses the complexities of chronic pain at the neural level.

Chronic pain is more than a mere physical sensation; it involves intricate interactions between the nervous system and psychological factors. Persistent pain can lead to maladaptive changes in the brain, affecting how the body processes and perceives pain signals. This intricate interplay necessitates a comprehensive approach to chronic pain management that considers both the physical and psychological dimensions of the condition.

EEG neurofeedback is a therapeutic approach that leverages real-time monitoring of brainwave patterns to enable individuals to self-regulate their brain activity. In the context of chronic pain, neurofeedback aims to modify neural activity associated with pain perception and emotional responses. By providing you with direct feedback about your brainwave patterns, neurofeedback empowers you to learn and implement strategies for modulating your brain function.

The Process of EEG Neurofeedback for Chronic Pain:

• Assessment: PhysioFunction can assess you in person for suitability. Your brainwave patterns will be recorded using EEG technology. This baseline data helps identify specific aberrations in neural activity associated with chronic pain.

• Feedback and Training: You would then engage in neurofeedback sessions where you receive real-time visual or auditory feedback based on your brainwave activity. Positive reinforcement is provided when desired brainwave patterns, associated with reduced pain perception or improved emotional regulation, are achieved.

• Self-Regulation: Through repeated sessions, you can learn to consciously influence your brain activity. This self-regulation is thought to induce neuroplastic changes, altering the way the brain processes and responds to pain signals.

• Integration: Neurofeedback can be integrated with other therapeutic modalities to create a comprehensive pain management plan. This may include physiotherapy, sports therapy, personal training, cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques tailored to the individual's needs.

The Potential Benefits of EEG Neurofeedback in Chronic Pain Management:

• Pain Perception: By influencing neural activity associated with pain processing, neurofeedback has the potential to reduce your perception of chronic pain. You may experience a decrease in pain intensity and an improved ability to cope with discomfort.

• Emotional Well-Being: Chronic pain often takes a toll on emotional health. Neurofeedback can address the emotional aspects of your pain by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety or depression commonly associated with chronic pain conditions.

• Neuroplasticity: The core principle of neurofeedback is based on the concept of neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to adapt and reorganise itself. Through repeated sessions, you may experience lasting changes in neural networks, contributing to sustained improvements in chronic pain management.

• Individualised Approach: EEG neurofeedback allows for a personalised and targeted intervention. By tailoring the training to your specific brainwave patterns and responses, the approach becomes highly individualised, potentially enhancing its effectiveness.