VA Augusta Offers New Bladder Implant to Veterans

For Veterans like Bryant Murray, overactive bladder meant painful bathroom visits lasting 15 minutes and waking up two or three times every night. After a year of failed medications, a small ankle implant finally gave him his life back.

VA Augusta Health Care System became the first hospital in Georgia to offer the Altaviva implant, a device that sends gentle pulses to nerves near the ankle to restore communication between the brain and bladder. The quick outpatient procedure uses only local anesthesia and takes effect within weeks.

Murray, a 54-year-old Army Veteran who served four tours in Iraq, describes the change as dramatic. He now sleeps through the night and drives without constant worry about finding a bathroom. "It's a huge relief not having to worry anymore," he said.

Navy Veteran Gayla Kunis lived with her symptoms for nearly 20 years, carrying what she called an "accident bag" everywhere she went. She used up to six pads daily and couldn't drive two hours to her mother's house without multiple emergency stops, sometimes pulling over on the side of the road.

After receiving the implant, Kunis drove the entire two hours to South Carolina without stopping once. At home, she no longer needs protection and can finish cooking before calmly walking to the bathroom. The freedom feels almost unreal to her.

The device was cleared by the FDA in 2024 and requires no spinal implant or trial phase. Dr. Thomas Dykes, chief of urology at VA Augusta, performed Georgia's first procedure and sees it as a game changer for Veterans who haven't found relief through lifestyle changes or medications.

Murray's device activates automatically three times a week at 9 p.m. The programming takes minutes, and the implant works invisibly beneath the skin.

Why This Inspires

Nearly 800 Veterans at VA Augusta needed help managing urinary incontinence in the last two years. For many, the condition meant isolation, anxiety, and constant planning around bathroom access. This therapy doesn't just treat symptoms. It restores the dignity and spontaneity that makes life worth living.

For Kunis, the biggest victory came last Christmas when she hosted dinner for her whole family. In past years, the stress of managing her condition would have overshadowed everything. This time, she stayed calm and delegated tasks without worry. Her mother called it the perfect Christmas. "I waited years to hear that," Kunis said.

The simple act of sleeping through the night, taking a road trip, or hosting family without fear represents freedom that healthy people often take for granted but means everything to those who've lost it.