Neuroreflective pain therapy with Cryofos: extensive physiological effects
Neuroreflective pain therapy, also known as cold stimulation therapy, is a natural technique for treating acute and chronic illnesses. Dr. Peter Stehling, orthopaedic surgeon and trauma specialist, explains his experiences. In the article, you can find out which patients he uses the method most in his practice, what the patient reactions are and how easy it is to integrate the application into practice procedures.
Cryotherapy is a physical therapy method that has been used for a long time, utilizing the effect of cold using a cold pack for injuries or a cold chamber for patients with acute rheumatic diseases. In contrast to treatment with ice or other cooling procedures, in neuroreflective pain therapy the liquid, hyperbaric CO2 is sprayed as dry ice onto the area of the body to be treated using a gun. This creates a thermal shock that cools the skin from around 32°C to 2-4°C within approx. 30 seconds. The induced neuro-reflective effects are potentiated in conjunction with the pressure and vibration generated and result in a series of physiological reactions that can promote healing processes and alleviate pain. Dr. Peter Stehling, accident physician and doctor for orthopaedics and surgery from Karlsruhe, reveals his experiences with the Cryofos device.
The mechanisms of action of pain therapy with the Cryofos device
The device makes use of the fact that pain and temperature sensations are transmitted to the thalamus and the cerebral cortex via the sensors in the skin via the lateral spino-thalamic tract, whereas information from the sense of pressure and touch reaches the cerebral cortex via the ventral spino-thalamic tract.
According to Dr. Stehling. This results in a centrally triggered reflex at the moment of thermal shock. As with ice treatment, an initial superficial vasoconstriction is followed by deep vasodilation. This is not possible with "regular" ice treatment. This triggers the removal of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, kinins, prostaglandin and serotonin, which in turn leads to a rapid reduction in oedema and haematomas.
Neuroreflector pain therapy is a causal therapy to eliminate the cause of the pain and not a purely symptomatic treatment through cooling. This is because within a few minutes the vascular permeability disturbed by the inflammation is normalized in the sense of the elimination of semi-permeability, which restores the physiological function of reabsorption of the inflammatory mediators and their removal via the venous system.
Indications and contraindications of neuroreflector pain therapy
Indications:
- Acute sports injuries
- Hematomas
- oedema
- Bruises and strains
- Torn ligaments
- Osteoarthritis of the knee
- Muscle tension
- Heel spur
- Gonarthrosis
- Inflammatory rheumatic processes
- Lumboischialgia
- Cervico-brachialgia
- M. Sudeck stage I and II
- Postoperative treatment and pain
Contraindications
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Diabetic gangrene
- Mucosal treatment
- No treatment on mucous membranes such as mouth, nose, eye, anal, vaginal and in open wounds
- Cold allergy
Use with patients in everyday practice
Patients, whether children or adults, are enthusiastic about this therapy.
Dr. Strehling emphasizes that this type of pain therapy is pain-free and naturopathic. He uses Cryofos for all patients suffering from pain - whether it is caused by an injury, edema or a hematoma, e.g. after strains or sprains. However, he also treats chronic inflammatory reactions in the context of rheumatic diseases or soft tissue rheumatism, heel spurs and achillodynia, myalgia in the shoulder, neck or lumbar spine area, epicondylitis, migraine-like complaints, as well as post-operatively after wound closure and in the further course of the disease.
According to Strehling, cold burns can be virtually ruled out with Cryofos; the device has a safety mechanism with feedback temperature measurement and an automatic switch-off if the temperature is too low.
Integration of the application into practice processes
On the one hand, the short but efficient treatment time is an advantage for Strehling, as the overall time required for treatment is kept to a minimum. On the other hand, Cryofos can be easily integrated into practice or clinic procedures thanks to its manageability. The device is also very easy to operate.
For Strehling, the most important prerequisite for successful treatment with neuroreflective pain therapy is correct application. In other words, the thermal shock must be achieved, which is controlled via the feedback temperature measurement.
