Cryolysis (cryoneurolysis, cryoanalgesia) is a method of treating pain that involves blocking the conduction of impulses by locally freezing the nerve. This eliminates the feeling of pain in a selected area of the body.
Cryolysis is a reversible procedure - it does not destroy the structure of the nerve and has no systemic side effects.
Cryolysis is a sonosurgical procedure - it is performed by a pain management specialist under careful, continuous control of an ultrasound head (USG). The use of USG means that the procedure is targeted at a specific nerve that supplies a selected area or joint.
The cryolysis procedure is an excellent alternative for people who chronically use painkillers. It also creates new opportunities for patients waiting for spine surgery - it not only eliminates pain, allowing for a spontaneous increase in activity, but also allows for the implementation of intensive rehabilitation. Thanks to the elimination of pain and targeted physiotherapy treatments, some our Patients manage to avoid surgery.
The procedure involves inserting a thin probe into the area of the appropriate nerve. The freezing reaction is caused by the rapid expansion of carbon dioxide inside the probe - the gas is inside the probe, so there is no risk of an undesirable reaction resulting from the gas having a direct effect on the patient's body. The probe tip lowers its temperature to about -70 degrees Celsius.
The lack of side effects and systemic effects allows for multiple applications of cryotherapy to the same person without causing any undesirable effects.
Cryotherapy is used in the treatment and elimination of pain in the following cases:
- lumbar spine pain syndromes
- thoracic spine pain syndromes
- sacroiliac joint pain
The procedure is performed after initial qualification based on an interview, clinical examination and assessment of imaging tests (X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging). Initially, a trial nerve block is performed under ultrasound control, assessing its effect on reducing pain. The reduction in pain levels as a result of performing a diagnostic blockade predicts its effective elimination after cryolysis procedures.
Author: Jacek Grabowski
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