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Innovative Cold Therapy Pain Relief
Posted on 02-20-2026 in Knee Osteoarthritis, Knee Pain, Sports Medicine & Pain Relief by Dr. Ryan Riggs
Recently, Dr. Ryan Riggs completed training on iovera°, an innovative pain relief treatment that uses extreme cold to stop nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. The system is safe, doesn’t damage or destroy any surrounding tissue and does not contain any medication.
How does it work?
The iovera° system is a handheld device that lets the provider apply just the right amount of extreme cold only to the nerves they want to target—the ones causing pain. This process delivers immediate pain relief in the time it takes for a routine doctor’s visit and can last up to 90 days.
The process begins with applying a topical numbing medication to the treatment area to manage any potential discomfort. The “Smart Tip” of the iovera° system is inserted into the skin, and the targeted nerves are blocked. In total, this takes about 30 minutes. Some patients describe feeling pressure or tugging during the iovera° treatment. Cold, warm and tingling sensations are also common, as well as some mild discomfort.
Who is the treatment suitable for?
iovera° has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration to help patients achieve pain relief related to knee osteoarthritis (OA). It is also an option for people who cannot have knee replacement surgery and as pre-operative analgesia for patients undergoing total joint replacement.
Learn more about iovera° from Dr. Riggs in the short video linked below. Ready to schedule a consultation? Visit our Online Appointment Request today.
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