I Tried Cryotherapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis — Here’s What Happened

If you told me two years ago that I’d willingly step into a freezing chamber for my health, I probably would’ve laughed… and then grabbed a blanket. But here I am, a mom with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sharing my very chilly story about trying cryotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis – and how it left me feeling more alive than I expected.

Life as a Mom with RA: Why I Was Willing to Try Something New

Motherhood is hard. Motherhood with RA? That’s a whole different game. And I don’t play games all too well. The fatigue, joint pain, and stiffness can sneak in like an uninvited guest. You wake up, open your eyes to start your day and immediately – you are greeted with pain and stiffness. You force yourself to move because you have no choice to get YOU ready for the day along with getting your littles ready too. I know the horrid feeling of the small joint pain as I lift my toddler boys up, change diapers, squeeze toothpaste out, or how’s about buckling them into their car seats with that 5-point harness? Oh yes, the list goes on.

For me, managing RA has been a constant dance between medications, mindset work, and lifestyle changes. But I’m also curious by nature. When I started hearing about cryotherapy—a treatment that exposes your body to super-cold temperatures for a short time—I wondered: Could this help me feel even a little better?

So, I talked with my doctor about it and booked a 7am session.

What Is Cryotherapy, Anyway?

In simple terms, cryotherapy is like giving your body a three-minute blast of icy winter—without the snowstorm. You step into a cold chamber (usually around -100°F to -250°F), and your skin cools rapidly thanks to the nitrogen vapor being blown in. This drop in temperature signals your body to boost circulation, release endorphins, and potentially reduce inflammation.

For someone with RA, that last part—reducing inflammation—is what caught my attention. When someone feels the pain that we do from rheumatoid arthritis, it hits different. At least it did for me, I reached a new level of desperation and curiosity to alternative methods to fight this inflammation my body has confusingly created within me.

My First Cryotherapy Experience

When I walked into the cryotherapy room, I felt two things: excitement… and anxious as ever – what am I thinking?

Here’s how it went:

How It Affected My RA

So this is NOT an immediate cure all, reset button by any stretch. Right after I got out, I felt my body begin to defrost and because it was so cold, my fingers/hands where I have the most trouble from RA. My body was a bit stiff but so cold, I couldn’t feel any pain. That afternoon, I could tell I did not have the typical fatigue that creeps in as the day goes on and my joints didn’t feel worse for wear. I won’t say it was a miracle cure (RA doesn’t work like that), but there was a noticeable decrease in my stiffness and a boost in my mood. And the best part? I had enough energy to play outside with my kids after dinner – something I don’t always get to do on high-pain days.

I tried a few more sessions over the following weeks, and here’s what I noticed:

• Reduced fatigue – minimal brain fog (which is a miracle in my case)
• More energy and mental clarity
• A better mood (endorphins are no joke!)

Should RA Moms Try Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy isn’t for everyone—especially if you have certain medical conditions—so always talk to your doctor first. But if your healthcare team gives you the green light, it might be worth exploring.

I went into it trialing cryotherapy with the mental preparation that this is not a replacement for medication or a cure, but for me, it was another tool in my RA toolbox—a tool that gave me hope and a little extra strength to keep showing up for my kids and myself.

Final Thoughts

Living with RA is about finding ways to thrive, not just survive. Cryotherapy was a reminder that trying something new, even if it’s wildly outside your comfort zone (or way below your comfort temperature), can open doors to unexpected relief.

If you’re curious about cryotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis, maybe this is your nudge to look into it. Feel free to ask away! I know I had all the questions before I started this like what do I even wear? How often can I do this? Will this cause a flare-up? Ok – backing away from that rabbit hole, I wore my workout clothes. I even asked the technicians, and they say you can wear the clothes you have or down to your undergarments. Which is something I have not tried. As far as how often to do cryotherapy, I’d say listen to your body. I started with once a week and then I caught myself craving the cold. It hits better than an expresso shot in my opinion. Not as cheap though. But both have their pros and cons, right?

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🌞 From one RA mom to another – keep going.
If you’re an RA mom reading this, I see you. I know the pain, the exhaustion, the small victories no one else notices. That’s why I started my email list — so once a week, I can drop into your inbox with encouragement, tips, and strategies that are actually made for our lives. No fluff, just real help from someone who gets it. Sign up below to join me.

I am more than happy to elaborate on this 180 second experience if you are curious about where I go, how much it costs, how to mentally prep for this, what questions to ask your doctor before trialing…Comment down below if this is something you are interested in and I’d be thrilled to post with more context in the next blog! 🙂

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