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What does cryosurgery involve?

For specific information on the procedure for Morton's neuroma please refer to the Morton's neuroma section.

Cryosurgery involves the location of the 'target' tissue with ultrasound. Doppler function (a special function that detects blood vessels) is used to find relevant blood vessels which can help to locate nerves and other tissue. Cryosurgery is undertaken under local anaesthetic either by locally infiltrating the anaesthetic or often, by performing a specialised type of ultrasound guided nerve block. This is where the nerve is located at ankle level using ultrasound and blocked so that the cryosurgery can be performed entirely painlessly. This type of block for example, would be performed if cryosurgery is administered to the bottom of the foot so as to avoid injecting this area directly as this is very painful.

The recovery after cryosurgery depends on the type of surgery performed. However, stitches are rarely required and patients can often return to work the next day. Post-operative pain is generally very mild following cryosurgery.