Cryoablation

A natural solution for your spine!

What is cryoablation?

Cryoablation (also known as cryoneurolysis) is a minimally invasive pain relief procedure that involves temporarily “freezing” a section of the nerve that transmits pain.

This interrupts the transmission of pain signals, providing significant relief to the patient for many months.

Unlike thermolesion (where the nerve is heated), cryoablation uses low temperatures – usually between -60°C and -80°C.

Qualification for cryoablation

Before a patient is qualified for the procedure, a thorough medical evaluation must be performed:

Patient interview and examination – the doctor analyzes the nature of the pain, its location, duration, and previous treatment.

Imaging tests, most often magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – used to confirm the source of pain and rule out other causes (e.g., hernias, degenerative changes, tumors).

Diagnostic block – often, before cryoablation, a trial administration of an anesthetic to the suspected nerve is performed.

If the pain subsides after the block, this confirms that the nerve in question is responsible for the symptoms.

Only then can cryoablation be performed safely and purposefully.

Indications for cryoablation

  • chronic spinal pain (cervical, thoracic, lumbar),
  • joint pain (e.g., knee, hip, sacroiliac joint),
  • neuralgia,
  • post-traumatic or post-operative pain,
  • cancer pain.

Effect of cryoablation therapy:

The analgesic effect appears within a few days after the procedure and may last for several months, and sometimes even longer.

The procedure is safe and minimally invasive, and any potential side effects (such as pain at the injection site, mild swelling, or numbness) are temporary.

After the procedure, the patient typically returns home the same day and can gradually increase physical activity.

Etapy zabiegu

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STEP 1 – Patient preparation: positioning and disinfection

What the team does:

The team positions the patient on the procedure table (most often the patient lies on their stomach) and prepares the operative field by disinfecting the skin.

STEP 2 – Locating the injection site

What the doctor does:

Using Xray guidance, the physician identifies the painful area and marks the injection sites on the skin.

Why is Xray guidance so important?

  • It enables precise targeting of the pain source.
  • The nerves that conduct pain are very thin and located close to bone structures.
  • Xray imaging clearly shows the exact position of the vertebrae and the approximate location of the nerve branches, allowing the doctor to precisely plan the needle insertion path.
  • This allows the procedure to be targeted precisely at the site of pain, rather than performed “blindly,” which increases its clinical effectiveness.


STEP 3 – Local anesthesia

What the doctor does:

Under X-ray guidance, the doctor inserts a needle into the target area and administers local anesthetics.

STEP 4 – Insertion of the cryoablation probe

What the doctor does:

Under X ray guidance, the doctor inserts a special probe into the target area.

STEP 5 – Freezing the tissue

What the doctor does:

Using a probe at a temperature of -60°C to -80°C, the doctor freezes the nerves responsible for pain sensation.

STEP 6 – Completion and dressing

After the procedure, the patient remains under observation for approximately 20–30 minutes.

Clinical Notes

Cryoablation is a minimally invasive and safe procedure performed in an outpatient setting under local anaesthesia.

Rest After the Procedure

Rest for several hours following the procedure.

Avoid physical exertion for 24–48 hours.

Driving is safe once any temporary weakness or numbness has resolved, typically the next day.

Activity and Physical Load

  • Avoid lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, and intense exercise for 2–3 days.
  • Gradually return to normal activities, depending on how you feel.
  • Office-based work is usually possible the next day.
  • Physical work is typically safe after 2–4 days, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.

Reactions after the procedure – what is normal

The following are possible:

  • slight pain or tenderness at the injection site,
  • a feeling of numbness or distension,
  • temporary worsening of symptoms in the first 1–5 days (tissue reaction to freezing).

Symptoms usually subside within a few days to 2 weeks.

When to contact a doctor immediately

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

  • fever or chills,
  • increasing pain instead of gradual improvement,
  • redness, swelling, or discharge from the injection site,
  • severe numbness or weakness in the limbs,
  • micturition disorders or impaired defecation