Safety
gloves, pain
In relation to participants’ concerns about safety, two subthemes emerged: extra examinations and discomfort (Table The theme about safety consists of the subthemes extra examination and discomfort with being in the control group and discomfort from the intervention treatmentThemes Condensation Extra examinations Many participants mentioned that they were pleased with the extra examination that was performed in the clinical trial and they felt great safety by having the examination   “(…) I think it is really nice that you from the beginning get an examination of your nerves and subsequently I know where I am, and I also know that in a year. I think that is incredibly positive, because one thing is what I am feeling, and another thing is what is being measured.”     “It was pleasant that it (the neurophysiological examination) could take place in addition to other treatments I have had, so that has been nice (…). It was pleasant that you did not have to come out her for an extra visit.” Discomfort with being in the control group   This subtheme refers to a participant who was annoyed of being part of the control group   “I have thought that we in the control group kind of were guinea pigs and that was not a pleasant feeling. Maybe that is also because you can find so much information saying that it works. So, it seems a bit foolish that you are not just giving the cooling treatment. It is hard being the one who is not receiving the cooling treatment.” Discomfort from the intervention treatment Some mentioned that receiving the intervention treatment created discomfort because the cooling treatment was uncomfortable and because they could not use their hands because of the cooling gloves   “I just felt that I could not be bothered with having more pain than necessary. It felt like my fingers were about to break or fall of. It hurts so much.”     “And then there is the thing with you not being able to do anything, you are sitting locked. You cannot use your hands, that is tough.”    “Maybe if some patients were doubtful, it would be a good idea to have a cooling-glove which people could try on. (…) So that in the conversation you could take a pair of cooling-gloves with you so that you could try it and feel what it is, how does it look and how does it feel, so you could see that it is not that bad.” 