The Hottest Method To Cure Pain Is Really An Old, Cold Concept

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — CBS2 and KCAL9 Health Reporter Lisa Sigell finds the hottest thing in the battle against pain is cryotherapy -- the use of cold temperatures to shock the body into better health. She even stepped inside a cryo-chamber to give it a try.

It's called the space capsule. It's about seven feet tall. And in this metal chamber is being called by some, the coolest pain treatment of all.

Gus, a patient, is 44, and suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. "So painful. My knuckles hurt, my hands hurt."

He's tried everything. But what really works is twice a day for the past two weeks, he's been stepping into this ice sauna. For about three minutes, nitrogen cools the air to minus 270 degrees Fahrenheit.

What!?

Sigell says it's the ultimate chill out to kill the pain. It's called cryotherapy.

Dr. Jonas Kuehne owns CryoHealthcare. "The extreme cold has an amazing effect on the body."

He says small doses of cold make a big difference.

"The idea is the extremely cold temperatures change the blood chemistry."

Here's how it works: The body thing it's going to freeze, even though it's not. The doctor says the blood rushes to the core where the blood is supercharged with oxygen and nutrients. Once the treatment ends, the blood rushes back through the body to aid in healing.

Sigell decided to give it a try. "As your body warms it's not only supposed to ease pain and speed recovery, but also release endorphins, the hormones that elevate your mood."

How did it work? Says Sigell, "I must say, I definitely felt energized all day after the treatment . Even this small machine for specific areas helped my injured ankle for a good week."

The treatment can also be used for anti-aging as it stimulates collagen. Cryotherapy has been around since the 70s. But it is finally getting a lot of exposure. Patients seem to be sold on the cold.

For more on CryoHealthcare, click here.

Lisa Sigell, CBS2 News