Cryotherapy treat conditions that involve irritation of an isolated nerve, such as benign nerve growths (neuromas), pinched nerves (nerve entrapments), nerve irritation between the ribs (intercostalneuralgia), cluneal nerve entrapment, ilioinguinal neuroma, hypogastric neuromas, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment, and interdigital neuromas using a method of localized freezing temperatures to deaden an irritated nerve.
Also, it is used as a method of treating localized areas of some cancers (called cryosurgery), such as prostate cancer and to treat abnormal skin cells by dermatologists.
Cryotherapy is usually performed in the doctor's office. During treatment, a probe is inserted into the tissue next to the affected nerve. Then a temperature of the probe drops, effectively to freeze the nerve and inactivate it so as a result, painful nerve irritation is relieved.
During and after the procedure, the patient can have unusual sensations, such as numbness or tingling, or redness and irritation of the skin but these effects are generally temporary.
