Have never heard of it. I read the website listed. My biggest concern would be the nerve takes several months to recoup. I would be worried about any repeated treatments, eventually wearing down the nerve.

I hope if you try it that it works for you. I am trying the epidural anti-inflammatory injections into the spinal column of the neck, next week. Hoping to get some relief from 24/7 head pain and neck pain.

I will have to research the ioverao treatment a lot more. If you have doctor's in your area who do this, maybe set up an appointment with a list of questions for him or her.

Take care,
Hugs-RJ

I have never heard of it either. It sounds interesting. But if it feels cold I wouldn't like it. I can't use that stuff that causes a cold feeling like Icy hot or whatever, even an ice gel bag. It annoys me and I feel worse especially if they have chemical smells. IDK if I could tolerate the cold feeling and it doesn't say if it's chemicals causing the cold, or is it liquid nitrogen, or how long it lasts or how it is applied, but it has to be topical. But I love the heat and MY MD prescribed heating pads though to bring healing blood flow to the area(s), and I will stick to nutrition and exercises of a certain type for now.

It does say on the linked website, "Common side effects include local pain, crusting, pigmentation changes, bruising and tingling."

For me, being told common, means it happens rather frequently as common as everyday, like the common allergies or whatever, and those side effects sound to me, kind lika, not so good as your skin is affected badly and commonly? Maybe? I will be staying away from it for sure. After reading that, I would refuse to accept it for myself.

Okay, I read further, it is liquid nitrogen, and knowing that when putting a can of warm coke in a container of LN2, it WILL freeze the can solid within 0.75 minute or less. I know this, because I worked with LN2 for many years in aerospace and guess how we all chilled our cokes back then? I've also had the skin burns from it too and also had the side effects quoted in the paragraph above, I also had the chemical burns at times. LN2 must be respected as it is a highly dangerous chemical, especially at MINUS 330 degrees Farenheit +/- ~15 degrees. The website can explain it all they want, but I know the chemical personally. I would never allow even the smallest amount be injected into my skin, or deeper under the skin to target a nerve whose exact whereabouts is unknown.

And just how do they target the right nerve? Is it hit or miss? Or do they do it, as in the injection of the long needle to deliver the LN2 during an MRI for guidance of the needle and to actually SEE the nerve itself to deposit the LN2 exactly there at the nerve? The website says nothing about that. But it does say there will be pain at the needled site requiring OTC pain meds( at your doctor's discretion) and healing time is necessary.

I'm not convinced.

I sincerely hope it works for you. If you do try it, do keep us posted on your progress. Curiosity, you know how that is....

Hugs.

Forgot to say, that frostbite occurs with LN2, and yes there is no feeling after frostbite, the thawing out is what is so horribly painful. I guess that is where the after treatment care comes in, for the pain and the healing (thinking damage occurred there), necessity of keeping area clean and whatever else the website said...

I'm still not convinced, and I am forever skeptical of touted miracles. FDA approves too much, and often costs people agony or death. FDA approved MSG and Aspartame too, among many other nefarious things most unnatural.

I totally understand your reservations and concerns and no disrespect...but I just couldn't care less about that stuff because I'm desperate. If I can fun anything to give me even 12 minutes relief it would be worth it. Quality of life has come to a point that waffling between pros and cons of something that has potenti to help one of the problems in my knee. I'm either literally going to die because of the pain...or I'm going die trying to fight it.

But I remember when I was at the point where I was cautious andore thoughtful....not its just desperation for pain relief.

http://www.painphysicianjournal.com/2003/july/2003;6;345-360.pdf?PHPSESSID=

As a nurse, I am actually excited to see this.
It is called Cryogenic block and Cryogenic nerve ablation.

Cryogenic procedures are already being used for example to successfully do a heart ablation for patients who are suffering from cardiac dysrythmias. I would try it, but my biggest concept would be finding a physician who is well trained and knows exactly how to do it.

After reading nearly all of the 16 pages from the link which Aronia gave, which gave distinct answers to the Q's I posed and had from the website advertisement. I feel more comfortable and accepting that this Iovera procedure could actually be something to look into since Aronia's paper giving indepth description of the processes used and are more for a person who looks into things deeper, and the iovera website answers none of those Q's I was left with as to the LN2 being injected or the methods used to actually get the needle tip at the exact location of the offending nerve, rather than hit and miss.

Now, after reading and studying Aronia's link, I am far less skeptical than I was, and if I were a good candidate, then I would be likely to try it too..... I am excited now, because there are many people with damaged nerves that is causing distressing pain 24/7.

It would have been nice if the iovera website gave links for further reading for the people who do have Q's that go beyond the average reader of the ad, or a link to the studies that have been done. I'm not one to read an advertisement of a drug or procedure as they are usually only very basic and lightly glossed over. I always end up having to find other sources that give more clinical data, including valid studies before I could decide if I would take it, or do it, whatever it is.

Aronia's link gave all those answers, and more. Thank you Aronia, you did a good job finding it, as it was an exceptional study and conclusive discussion of iovera and the modalities on how the procedure is done to accurately target a particular nerve and how the procedure itself works.

I'm less skeptical of the Iovera procedure and now on the accepting side. It makes greater sense. I'm excited and I hope it is not so expensive to be out of reach by those whose insurances won't pay for it. That would be unfair. Hopefully, insurances will pay for it as it could save them a lot of money in the long run, and save a lot of people from having to suffer the chronic ongoing pain and worse, the distress of constantly living with CP.

I hope others read the entire paper which Aronia linked.

Thank you.. I Know it is a lot of info, but I want to know exactly
What will happen to my body.. The websites designed for general
Population offer very limited info.

JordansMamma, thank you for posting this. I haven't heard of it before, but I've just now added it to my list of possible treatments to try for my severe pain in my pudendal nerve. Like you, I'm at a point where it would take major cons to keep me from trying something that may give me relief.

Interesting and informative info, JM...
Thanks for sharing it.
Hugs
jc

JM, no thoughts of disrespect taken by me. This is just a discussion that you asked for, and not meant to be disrespectful either. I just prefer to be fully informed of treatments or drugs, and will always question based on what I know or on what I must know before taking or trying anything new. The good always has to outweigh the bad.

If you do try it, please keep us posted in your progress. Well wishes and hugs sent your way too.....

Does anyone live near one of the main locations listed from the website where treatment is really thriving? NY, Chicago, Cali, etc??? I live in Michigan so Chicago is the closest to me but I'm going to make some calls to see what might be the best fit for me to try...anyone looked more into this yet?

I have a follow up with a neurologist,
I will ask him what he knows about it

I can almost see the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic out my kit window. I might stop in there early August when I'm there again, and talk to them about it to find out more, cost, insurances accepted, time it takes etc. If a MD is available, I will attempt to discuss it with him.

Either way, if it's not for me, I know a few who it would be helpful for. I was surprised to see as many clinics on the website as there was.

JM, I think it could mean a nice little mini-vacation for you!

JM,

Yes, I'm in the Chicago area, and I'm planning on making an appointment with the doctor at NorthShore tomorrow. My significant other (SO) looked into this more and thought it was definitely worth making an appointment for. However, since it's my pudendal (pelvic floor) nerve that has pain, I am not sure she'll be able to help me. In my SO's research, which he spent quite a while doing, he only found cases of it being done on the knee. The iovera site makes it sound like it should work for any peripheral nerve though, so, I'll see.