Cryosurgery, or cryotherapy, is the use of extremely low temperatures for therapeutic benefit of the human body. For example, common treatment for muscle aches and strains is the use of ice.  Cryosurgery takes this concept a step further.

This technique allows the use of extreme cold in the range of -50 to -70 degrees F to selectively treat tissues within the human body.  Cryosurgery is a method to treat nerve related pain, nerve lesions (such as Morton’s neuroma), plantar fasciitis and plantar fibromatosis. It can also be used in cases of nerve related heel pain.

This method allows for therapy that treats the pain, but still allows for nerve regeneration and healing.  The nerve can still heal but no longer sends pain signals to the brain.

Cryosurgery is minimally invasive and has the following advantages:

• Only takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.
• Requires only local anesthetic.
• No stitches are required.
• Can bathe normally the following day.
• Shoes can be worn immediately afterward.
• Activity is reduced for only 48 hours, then gradually returned to normal as tolerated.

Cryosurgery is successful in 70% of cases, however due to the minimally invasive technique, tissue trauma is limited, therefore other therapies can be applied if adequate pain relief is not achieved.

Oregon Foot Care Centers is the only clinic in Oregon to offer cryosurgery.

Cryosurgery is useful and safe because if cryosurgery fails, all other known techniques can still be used to help treat foot conditions. However, this form of treatment is least effective when used after failure of multiple injection therapy.