How do I prepare for my appointment?

It’s very easy to prepare for iovera° treatment—there isn’t really much to do! You’ll want to remember to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that allows for easy access to the knee area. (Shorts are a good option.) Treatment with iovera° takes about 30 minutes.

You and your doctor will discuss your medical history.
Here’s a quick checklist of things to go over:

  • Any daily medicines you take (eg, blood thinners, pain medicine)
  • Health history and health conditions you have now and/or have had in the past
  • Any previous surgery, treatment, or trauma
  • Any previous medical diagnosis regarding the treatment area
  • If you have a history of keloid (a raised scar after an injury has healed) formation
  • If you have a history of reactions to local anesthetics
  • If you have a history of sensitivity to pain or cold
  • Any open or infected wounds in the treatment area
  • If you regularly use anticoagulants (such as fish oil, Coumadin, aspirin, or NSAIDS [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen])
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What should I expect during my appointment?

  • To determine the treatment area, your doctor will ask you about the location and level of your pain. Your doctor will then clean and mark the treatment area.
  • Your doctor will numb the area with an anesthetic injection (you may feel a slight pinch) or a cold spray.
  • Now, your doctor is ready to use the iovera° system. The part of the system that goes into your skin is called the “Smart Tip.” You may feel pressure or tugging when it is inserted. It’s also normal to experience cold, warm, or tingling sensations, or some level of discomfort, but not pain.

iovera° treatment should not be painful. If you feel any pain, tell your doctor right away.

SEE iovera° IN ACTION

What about after treatment?

Proper care for the treated area after an iovera° treatment is very important. Side effects usually resolve on their own. Here’s a list of side effects. Follow these instructions to minimize the occurrence and/or duration of expected side effects.

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Immediately

  • Apply pressure (for 10 to 15 minutes) to the treatment area to reduce swelling and bruising
  • After applying pressure, apply ice as needed for any discomfort
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At home

  • Keep the treatment area clean and dry as it heals
    • The treatment area may feel tender and/or warm. You may also experience numbness or tingling in the treatment area. Some swelling and bruising may occur. These responses are normal and temporary
  • Use ice or over-the-counter pain medicine to relieve soreness (ask your doctor for guidance)
  • Avoid blood-thinning drugs (eg, ibuprofen, aspirin) for 48 hours unless your doctor tells you otherwise
  • Avoid exercise and/or strenuous activity for 2 to 5 days (ask your doctor for guidance on returning to normal activities and safe levels of exercise and stress)

iovera° targets your nerves with cold for pain relief

SEE HOW iovera° WORKS

Have a specific question
about iovera°?

Check out our FAQs

Indication

The iovera° system is used to destroy tissue during surgical procedures by applying freezing cold. It can also be used to produce lesions in peripheral nervous tissue by the application of cold to the selected site for the blocking of pain. It is also indicated for the relief of pain and symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee for up to 90 days. The iovera° system is not indicated for treatment of central nervous system tissue.

When stimulation compatible components are used, the iovera° system can also facilitate target nerve location by conducting electrical nerve stimulation from a compatible 3rd party nerve stimulator.

Important Safety Information

The iovera° system should not be used in people with the following conditions:

  • Blood that thickens when patient is exposed to cold (cryoglobulinemia), blood appearing in the urine when patient is exposed to the cold (paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria), skin rash that appears when patient is exposed to the cold (cold urticaria), narrowing of the blood vessels in the hands and feet when patient is exposed to the cold (Raynaud’s disease), and open and/or infected wounds at or near the treatment site

Patients being treated with the iovera° system (a needle-based therapy) may experience certain reactions, including, but not limited to:

  • Bruising, swelling, inflammation and/or redness, local pain and/or tenderness, and altered feeling at the site of application

Proper use of the device as described in the User Guide can help reduce or prevent the following reactions:

  • In the area(s) where you were treated: damage to the skin from being exposed to cold or heat, darkening or lightening of the skin, and dimples in the skin
  • Outside the area(s) where you were treated: muscles may not work or move normally
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Indication

The iovera° system is used to destroy tissue during surgical procedures by applying freezing cold. It can also be used to produce lesions in peripheral nervous tissue by the application of cold to the selected site for the blocking of pain.

Important Safety Information