Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a pain treatment that uses a method of localized freezing temperatures to deaden an irritated nerve. Cryotherapy is also used to treat localized areas of some cancers (called cryosurgery), such as prostate cancer, and to treat abnormal skin cells by dermatologists.

What Conditions Can Be Treated with Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy can be used to treat conditions that involve irritation of an isolated nerve, including:

• Benign nerve growths (neuromas).
• Pinched nerves (nerve entrapments).
• Intercostal neuralgia (nerve irritation between the ribs).
• Cluneal nerve entrapment.
• Ilioinguinal neuroma.
• Hypogastric neuromas.
• Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment.
• Interdigital neuromas.

Cryosurgery is also used to destroy problematic tissues in the body, often for skin cancers and precancerous lesions.

What Are the Side Effects of Cryotherapy?

While cryotherapy is generally safe, some potential side effects include:

• Temporary numbness or tingling in the treated area.
• Redness and irritation of the skin.
• Rarely, prolonged sensitivity.