Cryotherapy

Cryoanalgesia is a specialized technique for providing long-term pain relief for various podiatric conditions. People have recognized the value of cold for analgesia for thousands of years. Hippocrates left us the first written records of the use of ice for pain relief. Modern Cryoanalgesia as we know it today was developed in the early 1960′s. This technique is superior to other methods of peripheral nerve destruction (e.g. alcohol injections, phenol applications, or surgical resection) because it is not followed by neuritis or neuralgia.

There are few options for successful relief from painful foot conditions. Surgical resection of the nerves often leads to recurrent nerve growths called neuromas. These neuromas are often more painful than the original problem. Narcotics do not treat nerve pain but rather only “mask” the pain.

The application of cold to tissues creates a conduction block. This is similar to the effect of local anesthetics, but the effect is long lasting. Long-term pain relief from nerve freezing occurs because the formation of an ice crystal disrupts the sensory component of the nerve structure.   To learn more about Cryotherapy click here .