- Blog
Innovative Cold Therapy Pain Relief
Posted on 11-07-2025 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.
Check out some of our related posts:
Strong Bones & Aging
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, approximately 2 million older Americans sustain fractures yearly due to weak bones. By 2025, that number is predicted to rise to 3 million fractures annually. At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, we recognize the importance of maintaining strong bones, particularly as you age. In honor of Healthy Aging Month, the following tips can help you maintain, and even improve, your bone strength:
Osteoporosis Management
We see our share of broken bones as an orthopaedic and sports medicine practice. From the high school baseball player who collided with first base a little too hard to the avid DIY’er who took a tumble from an unsecured ladder and everything in between, we’ve seen it all. As we age, we also gradually lose bone mass, which occurs as small amounts of healthy bone are absorbed into your body as small amounts are replaced. When more bone is absorbed than is replaced, the density (bone mass) is reduced. Osteoporosis develops when the bone is no longer replaced as quickly as it is removed, and over time, it causes the bone to become progressively weaker, increasing the risk that it may break.
Real-Time Insight: Using Ultrasound to Enhance Sports Medicine Care
October is Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month, a time to highlight how this technology is reshaping sports medicine. At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, musculoskeletal ultrasound plays a vital role in the timely diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries, helping patients receive precise, efficient care without delay.