Cryoanalgesia for Chronic Pain

CRYOANALGESIA

Cryoanalgesia is a way to provide long term pain relief by "freezing" a nerve. If a particular nerve is damaged, or if a discreet area is chronically painful, one useful technique to relieve the pain is to literally freeze the nerve with a needle probe.Within the needle probe, very small hollow tubes allow the passage of nitrous oxide.

As the gas expands within the probe, heat is absorbed from the surrounding area, and the temperature rapidly drops. An area around the tip, approximately the size of a "Q-Tip," drops to temperatures well below zero degrees, and the tissue physically freezes. The nerve structure stops working at that physical spot, and pain to the involved areas is relieved.The procedure is done under local anesthesia, the only sensation that is felt is a "beating" from the portion of the machine that assists in finding the nerve. For approximately 20 seconds as the tip is frozen, there is a dull ache, and that is just about it.

The procedure is done either in the doctor's office, or treatment center. For a period of weeks after the procedure, there is a feeling of numbness, which often resolves, but the pain relief may last months to years.Not all nerves are suitable for cryoanalgesia, and not all problems can be treated with this technique. The cryoanalgesia technique is but one of many treatment alternatives that must be carefully and thoughtfully selected for an individual patient. The benefit of cryoanalgesia is that in skillful hands, complications are rare, and relatively minor.

Radio Frequency Neuroablation is a similar type of technique that uses radio-frequency electric current to heat a needle tip and thereby uses heat to achieve the same result. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages, and the individual patient situation dictates the best approach for any particular situation.