During cryoablation, a thin, wand-like needle called a cryoprobe is inserted through the skin. The cryoprobe is placed directly onto the tissues near the nerve involved. Nitrous oxide gas is pumped into the cryoprobe to freeze the tissue, then the tissue is allowed to thaw. The freezing and thawing process may be repeated several times. The freezing of the tissue temporarily interrupts the signal transmission of pain from specific nerves to the brain.

The skin of the area is cleaned with antiseptic solution and then the procedure is carried out. After injection of a local anesthetic, a small closed-end needle is positioned next to the targeted nerves. Once the needle is in place, the nitrous oxide will reduce the temperature (around – 88oC) at the nerves up to the point that signal transmission is stopped. The needle is then removed, and the procedure is complete. 

The patient position during the procedure depends on the nerve being targeted. The procedure takes around 30-60 minutes, and the effect might be noticed immediately, and sometimes take up to 6 weeks to have effect.

Talk to your physician about stopping any medications prior to this treatment. Avoid exercise and/or strenuous activities for 2 to 5 days after your procedure.

Your physician will discuss the specific circumstance with you and if you should repeat the treatment.

• We use state of the art technology and high sterility standards;
• We are one of few accredited pain clinics in BC with high level expertise and experience in chronic pain interventions;
• We explore all appropriate non-cryoablation procedures to optimize effective solutions;
• We offer cutting edge evidence-based therapies, and we are constantly reviewing data to improve these results.

Every patient’s response is different. Because the procedure is done to a peripheral nerve, the nerve does grow back eventually. The pain relief should be several months, but that can vary depending on the length of the nerve and where it is targeted. For some patients, cryoablation will have little or no effect on pain levels.

As with any procedure, there are some risks and side effects, and your doctor will discuss these with you. Some possible side effects are bruising, swelling, inflammation and/or redness, local pain and/or tenderness, and altered feeling at the application site and in the area of the nerve targeted. Some people describe feeling pressure or tugging during the treatment, as well as cold, warm, and tingling sensations, and some level of discomfort.

There will be numbness in the area after a successful cryoablation, similar to the feeling of the nerve block. This can take several months to fade. There is the possibility of increased pain after cryoablation.

• Mild-side effects include: Local injection site pain and mild bruising
• Moderate side effects include: Localized skin infection at the injection site, moderate bruising or hematoma formation
• Severe risks include: Severe intra-articular infection also known a septic arthritis, severe intra-articular bleeding, contiguous structural damage such as nerve or blood vessel injury, or allergy (severe swelling, hives, low blood pressure)