Pain management using cryogenic remodeling

A method for treating a back pain associated with a target nerve of a patient, the method comprising:

• inserting a distal end of a needle of a cryogenic system into a tissue beneath a skin surface of the patient, wherein the needle comprises an electrically conducting structure at least partially surrounded by an electrical insulator, and wherein the distal end of the needle comprises an electrically conductive surface configured to be able to conduct electrical energy from an electrical source, wherein the needle comprises:
• an outer lumen extending distally toward the distal end of the needle, and
• an inner lumen extending distally within the outer lumen, the inner lumen comprising a distal opening that is open to the outer lumen;
• positioning a distal portion of the needle at a desired location in proximity to the target nerve associated with the back pain;
• and
• performing a first cooling cycle via the distal portion of the needle at the desired location in proximity to the target nerve associated with the back pain so that the needle cools tissue at the desired location;
• causing at least a portion of the tissue at the desired location to be thawed over a thawing period;
• and
• performing a second cooling cycle via the distal portion of the needle;
• wherein the cooling cycles are configured to reach temperatures less than −19 degrees Celsius, and wherein the cooling cycles sufficiently reduce back pain.