Crymoanesthesia

/ˌkraɪoʊmoʊænɛsˈθiːziə/ noun

Definition

Loss of sensation to pain caused by exposure to extreme cold or by using cold as a medical treatment.

Etymology

From Greek 'kryos' (cold) + 'moan' (pain) + 'anesthesia' (lack of sensation). The term combines medical terminology from the 19th century when cold was first used therapeutically to numb pain before anesthetics were widely available.

Kelly Says

Ancient surgeons actually used ice and snow to numb patients before surgery—but this technical term for it only came about once modern medicine wanted to study cold's pain-blocking effects scientifically. It's basically nature's original painkiller.

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