| Cryosurgery, also known as Cryotherapy or | | | | simple cooling. Over the last thirty years, many |
| Neuroablation, is a minimally invasive FDA approved | | | | treatments have been introduced to address chronic |
| procedure done in the office for pain relief and nerve | | | | pain by neurologists, surgeons, pain management |
| problems of the foot. Dr. Katz notes that treatments | | | | specialists, and neurosurgeons. These techniques |
| have provided longstanding relief for heel pain, plantar | | | | have had a common goal of producing prolonged |
| fasciitis, Morton's neuroma and neuropathy and many | | | | nerve blocks to relieve intractable pain. Within the last |
| other painful conditions. | | | | ten years, cryosurgery has been utilized to relieve |
| The procedure is performed under local anesthesia | | | | trigeminal nerve pain, lumbosacral pain and carpal |
| using a tiny incision that does not require stitches. A | | | | tunnel syndrome. |
| probe is used to freeze tissue in a 15 minute office | | | | Advantages to Foot Cryosurgery |
| procedure. Extreme freezing temperatures produce | | | | * Painless - use of local anesthetic |
| an anesthetic effect beyond the temporary relief | | | | * Minimally invasive |
| produced by simple cooling. This procedure may be | | | | * In-office physician performed procedure |
| used as a primary treatment but is more commonly | | | | * Walking the day of the procedure |
| used after other conservative treatments have failed. | | | | * Minimal to no down time from work or activity |
| Cryoanalgesia has been known to decrease pain and | | | | * Decreased use of pain medications that can cause |
| inflammation for centuries. Physicians, physical | | | | complications |
| therapists and sports trainers have used ice for many | | | | * May permit patient to return to fashion shoes, |
| conditions and injuries. Cool temperatures result in | | | | sandals and heels |
| vasoconstriction of blood vessels, thus reducing | | | | * May permit patient to walk barefoot |
| inflammation, but also create an anesthetic effect by | | | | Success rates have been high and patients find that |
| altering nerve function. | | | | they get significant relief while being able to return to |
| Historically, researchers performing cryosurgery | | | | normal activities quickly. This is truly a breakthrough |
| observed that extreme freezing had an anesthetic | | | | technology for foot pain said Dr. Marc Katz of |
| effect beyond the temporary relief produced by | | | | Tampa. |