New Therapy Offers Hope for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Using Vagus Nerve Stimulation

It’s Chronic Disease Awareness Day, a reminder that nearly 129 million Americans live with at least one major chronic condition. Among them is rheumatoid arthritis—an autoimmune disease that causes painful joint swelling, stiffness, and inflammation.

While medications can help some patients, others find little relief. But a new therapy is showing promise: vagus nerve stimulation.

That’s what Dawn Steiner, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 15 years ago, discovered when she enrolled in a clinical trial at Northwell Health in New York.

“I woke up one morning and felt like I’d been hit by a truck,” Steiner recalled. Basic tasks like brushing her teeth or raising her arms became impossible. She tried more than eight medications over the years, each one taking months to confirm whether or not it would work—often with severe side effects.

In 2023, Steiner joined a study testing vagus nerve stimulation. The treatment involves implanting a small computer chip in the neck that sends electrical signals down the vagus nerve, which helps regulate immune system activity.

“By driving electrical signals down the vagus nerve into the immune system, it’s possible to stop inflammation,” explained Dr. Kevin Tracy, one of the lead researchers.

For patients like Steiner—among the estimated 50% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who don’t get full relief from medications—the implant offers a new path forward.

Within a week of activating the device, Steiner felt noticeable relief. Now, two years later, she says her life is the best it’s been since her diagnosis. “This has completely changed my life,” Steiner said.

The FDA is currently reviewing the therapy for possible approval in the U.S. If approved, it could offer new hope for millions living with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

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