Working With A Family Doctor

When individuals are suffering from a number of chronic conditions, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the number of treatment options. In particular, patients may lack an understanding when it concerns cryotherapy. While this is a relatively new treatment approach, it can provide effective relief for a number of conditions, and you may benefit from enhancing your understanding about this treatment option.

How Does Cryotherapy Provide Relief to Patients?

When a patient undergoes cryotherapy, they will be exposed to extremely cold temperatures for a sustained period of time. This exposure can lead to certain changes in the body that may be beneficial for some patients. For example, this extreme cold can trigger a reduction in inflammation as well as rapid reductions in pain levels.

These benefits occur because the blood vessels and capillaries near the surface of the skin will constrict when exposed to the cold temperatures. This will redirect the flow of blood in your body, which may help to promote these healing benefits.

Will This Therapy Be Painful?

Some patients will be leery of opting to undergo this type of treatment due to fears that they will experience pain from the intense cold. Often, these patients assume that the cold is administered through soaking in ice water. While this can be a form of cryotherapy, it is rarely practiced by these clinics as there are complex machines that can achieve the same result without relying on ice water.

Rather than using water, these systems will pump cold air over the skin of the patient. While you will feel a noticeable cold sensation, it should not be painful. Furthermore, your exposure will be fairly short, which can further limit any discomfort that you may experience.

How Many Sessions Are Needed to Cure Your Problems?

When a patient starts any type of treatment, it is common for them to be very concerned about how long it will take for their problem to be cured. Like many other treatments, the number of cryotherapy sessions you need will vary based on the particular condition you are experiencing, its severity as well as your body's recovery ability.

In most instances, patients will see almost immediate benefits from their sessions, but these benefits will gradually fade. To see long-term results, you should expect to need these treatments on a regular basis for at least several weeks. Furthermore, there may be instances where you will need to attend maintenance visits to help ensure that you continue to see benefits.