Nails
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Freezing Temperatures Treat Chronic Foot Pain

Cryosurgery treats foot pain by using very cold temperatures.

December 1, 2008
Freezing Temperatures Treat Chronic Foot Pain

 

2 min to read


Millions of Americans are troubled by chronic heel pain and other debilitating foot ailments, such as plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, and neuropathy. An age-old treatment that uses freezing cold temperatures to manage pain — cryotherapy — is gaining popularity in podiatric medicine and offering new hope for sufferers looking for a permanent fix for their foot pain, says the American Podiatric Medical Association.

One type of cryotherapy, called cryosurgery, treats foot pain by using very cold temperatures — sometimes as low as -94°F — to freeze problem tissue during a quick, minimally invasive surgical procedure. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia using a tiny incision that does not require stitches. A probe is used to freeze tissue in a 15- to 30-minute office procedure.

Ad Loading...

A 2007 study in the Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery concluded that cryosurgery offers a highly effective treatment for plantar fasciitis without performing open, invasive outpatient surgery.

According to Dr. Brent Rubin, a podiatrist in Bradenton, Fla., who has performed cryosurgery on more than 150 patients, 90% of his post-operative patients reported either complete elimination or a large reduction in their chronic foot pain. “The wonderful thing about cryosurgery is that it doesn’t kill the nerve permanently. Nerve conduction regenerates six months to a year after surgery, which gives the patient’s foot time to heal appropriately,” says Dr. Rubin, adding that after the patient’s foot is fully healed, the pain should never return again.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Wellness

Ad Loading...
Wellness|Articles|Aug 5, 2025

Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks

As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.

Wellness|Articles|Mar 31, 2025

Protecting Your Clients From Viral Infections

Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).

Ad Loading...
Wellness|Articles|Jul 3, 2024

Standing Stretches for Physical Longevity

Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.

Ad Loading...