The first is a repetitive injury to the wrist such as with gymnastics, push-ups or bench press. Once inflamed, it can be take a while for the TFCC area to heal. Through the intervention of a cortisone injection the affected individual can get back to his or her daily activities quicker and with less pain. However, degenerative meniscus tears can gradually present with signs and symptoms. MY QUESTION: He says that the tear is pretty bad. Degenerative Injury. Can't deal with the catch position as it causes intense pain. What are the symptoms of a TFCC tear? but it hasn't gone away and the pain is just as bad. Pain that gets worse with simple gripping and rotation movements (opening a door or using a can opener) It normally does not swell. Injury to the TFCC can be debilitating. From my understanding, the TFCC does not get a ton of blood, so it does not heal quickly. Smaller TFCC tears can be trimmed, while larger TFCC tears will usually be repaired. The short answer to this question is “Maybe”, but there is some new research out that gives us clarity on this topic. You might also experience clicking, popping, or locking of the knee. 0. Type I tears are caused due to any trauma to the wrist region such as falling on an outstretched hand or excessive wrist or arm rotation. Send thanks to the doctor. The thing is, I did it in January, and it is now October. 23 years experience Occupational Medicine. Pushups, any type of press, etc. The TFCC tear can occur from a fall or any other impact to your wrist. I tore my TFCC bench pressing. The best way Doctors can diagnose it is by examining it and your symptoms. Classically, TFCC tears are associated with athletes, but many older adults experience degradation or wearing away of TFCC cartilage and subsequent pain and discomfort. Becoming weaker is a natural consequence of injury. However. Jan 5, 2018 ... based on my wrist anatomy it seems this type of pain isn't going away and has the potential to get worse over time, so I see this as a preventative move to avoid arthritis/chronic wrist pain for the next 20-30 years before needing the surgery anyway. Now 4 months post up, I have full range of motion and can do my average daily … Consult your physician for an exam and to get an x-ray (depending on your location this may take 1-3 weeks!). It may not be from typing alone, but from a combination of small movements that cause 'microtears' to develop which get worse over time. TFCC tears can be classified [2] as two types namely type I and type II. It seems to be getting worse, so I went to see an ortho to get some insight. TFCC injuries can cause mild to severe pain depending on the severity of the tear. “My wrist has been bothering me for a long time now. Tfcc tear: If you have not responded to conservative treatment you should see a hand surgeon about possible arthroscopy and/or surgery. Will my rotator cuff tear get worse if I don’t have surgery for it? Treatment of a TFCC injury depends on the severity of the damage and the structures involved. I went to my doctor, he referred me to the orthopedist, I had a nerve test and an MRI and everything came back pointing to a Triangular fibrocartilage complex tear. Many people injure their TFCC and are not immediately aware of it. TFCC tears can be classified as two types, namely type I and type II. Ligament injuries of the wrist can be difficult to assess without visually inspecting the ligament. Depending on the severity, damage to the TFCC can lead to early arthritic degeneration. Type II TFCC tears are more chronic and occur over a period of time due to degeneration of the ligaments. I since have done a lot of my own research and concluded that its a TFCC injury, I get sharp pain that area particularly when I rotate my wrist inwards pushing my pinky up towards the sky, I found the wrist widget website and did the load test. There are also some other conditions that can be well addressed by arthroscopic wrist surgery. Learn more about how to treat them and the recovery time involved. So, I tore my TFCC in my wrist, and it's very painful. If you continue to abuse it, it will get to a point where it will never heal. A TFCC tear can also occur overtime as a degenerative-type injury. There are two causes of TFCC injury; Traumatic Injury. Rotator cuff tears are generally degenerative in nature, meaning that the tear occurs over time from wear. TFCC tears may or may not heal, but like most cartilage injuries, they tend to settle down and life goes on until your next impact injury. And while TFCC tears are relatively common wrist injuries, diagnosis and treatment can be somewhat trickier. You may have reduced grip strength because of the pain. In the short term you will become a worse climber, grumpier and generally a bit of an ass. TFCC tears can also occur with degenerative changes. TFCC tears may not show up on MRI's. I get very very mixed emotions from him as though he maybe feels as though he isn`t capable of repairing the wrist. Tears can be associated with a "long ulna" caused by an ulna putting pressure on the TFCC, a condition known as Ulnar Impaction Syndrome. If you want to climb for the rest of your life, take the time to rest it. First, to identify the source of the pain (confirm the TFCC tear is causing the symptoms); and second, to deliver medications to the area for treatment. 0 comment . No: Be careful with steroid injections. Surgery. I heard that it can take a long time to heal. Diagnosis. This can be done either with arthroscopic or open surgery, depending on individual circumstances. TFCC problems can be caused by falling on an outstretched hand, from overuse or with age as the cartilage in your wrist wears down. Answered by Dr. Pavel Conovalciuc: Fracture: I am not sure why cortisone was used. It is painful/bothersome and can impact quality of life. Did a weight bearing test (positive for tfcc injury) - also purchased the wrist widget and have been wearing it 24/7. The TFCC, or triangular fibrocartilage complex, is a structure in your wrist. Poor blood supply and repetitive wear and tear is enough to cause injury to the TFCC. "Dull achy pain still remains after 3 month old tfcc tear where blood supply is poor. (TFCC) tears can also occur with degenerative changes. Thinning soft tissue structures can result in a TFCC tear with minor force or minimal trauma. My mum is the kind of person who says it'll go away, it isn't broken etc. Instability as a result of complete or near to complete ligamentous tears requires surgery as soon as possible to repair the damaged structures. I play a lot of tennis, it has been getting worse and worse. One thing you can do at home is … Any type of clean, forget it. Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear. Damage to the TFCC can cause pain, swelling and instability within the wrist joint. They all show changes with the tape or WristWidget®. The below outlines recommendations of your rehab over the first 3 months following your procedure; Overview; Post Operative Rehab; Pre-Surgery Preparation. If you sustain an injury to this part of your wrist, it can cause pain along the outside of the wrist as well as a limited range of motion in your hand. My wrist feels a lot weaker too, and I can't put a lot of pressure on. And in January, I was in a cast for about a month, then it felt fine and I started playing softball, just a while after I got my cast off. So I got a Wrist widget, which has helped most the time. Dr. By reproducing symptoms they can get an understanding of which structures are injured. He also says that he feels as though he wouldn`t be able to repair the TFCC again. TFCC tear was detected in 24 cases, and remaining 23 cases had no TFCC tear. If you feel pain in your wrist when gripping something tightly or pushing on your hand to get up from your chair you may have a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury or tear. Clinical assessment may expose tenderness along the knee joint line. Type I TFCC tears are caused due to any trauma to the wrist region such as falling on an outstretched hand or excessive wrist or arm rotation. Type II TFCC tears are more chronic and occur over a period of time due to degeneration of the ligaments. This is not the case for tendonitis, fractures, UT tears and much more. If a TFCC tear is suspected, visit a doctor, who will examine your wrist for signs and symptoms. Repetitive pronation (palm down position) and gripping with load or force through the wrist are risk factors for tissue degeneration. All symptoms are inline with a TFCC tear. An injury or tear to the TFCC can cause chronic wrist pain. I tried conservative treatment for 8 months, which didn't work. No TFCC tear, just overuse. Secondly, the injury can occur with an acute traumatic event extending the wrist dramatically, which can be associated with a fracture. Examination & Evaluation. In 100% of the cases I have seen, every TFCC tear presented with painful and diminished weight bearing tolerance. These symptoms are generally accompanied by pain along the knee joint line and a joint swelling. An MRI can be helpful to see the cartilage and ligaments that form the TFCC. Repetitive pronation (palm down position) and gripping with load or force through the wrist are risk factors for tissue degeneration. We typically see TFCC tears related to high impact activities such as tennis and weight lifting. Degenerative changes in the TFCC structure also increase in frequency and severity as we get older. TFCC tears are a common wrist injury that can make daily tasks difficult. Such as getting your hand & wrist caught in a door or under a heavy object. However, a fracture or other injury can accompany a TFCC tear if there is swelling. The Weight-bearing test must be performed by every patient with a diagnosis of a TFCC tear. even turning doorknobs and putting my shoes on causes pain. A tear can be associated with pain on the ulnar side of the wrist, sometimes with painful clicking or snapping. It is treated by cutting the ulnar bone down to appropriate length. 0. Your wrist is an intricate and complex body part, and the TFCC is no exception. Sometimes the wrist will feel unstable. A 51-year-old female asked: Can a steroid injection cure a TFCC tear? 0 thank. Possible Reasons for Wrist Arthroscopy Treatment of Ligament Injuries/Instability . After a series of xrays, MRIs, and an EMG, I was diagnosed with a positive ulnar variance and a (suspected) TFCC tear. Is it healed or is pain masked by cortisone only to return later?" Troy Ross answered. The pain is worse with twisting movements, such as opening a door handle or using a screwdriver. I don't consider anything TFCC to be 'minor'. Injury: Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tear (TFCC) TFCC injuries typically occur from two primary mechanisms. Many doctors will inject the area for two reasons. This time though the TFCC tear seems way worse and was very painfull to the touch when he examined it. After the season was over, it started bothering me again. The timeframe for healing really depends on the severity of your issue. TFCC Tear. TFCC Tear Repair Protocol. Go to a doctor when you can. Finally I had arthoscopic debridement of a Partial Peripheral Tear and fraying of the ECU Sheath. Advertisement . Wrist rotation can make the pain worse; Cracking and grinding may come from the wrist; Swelling; Weakness; Instability; Causes. They will perform some manual tests which place stress on the complex. You will achieve the best rehab outcome if you follow up surgery with a matching course of rehabilitation. Depending on the nature of the injury, surgery may be prescribed as the best form of treatment. The MRI cannot confirm a tear but it shows swelling in the region which could be the result of a tear (or not – I hate the uncertainty). I'd appreciate any answers on whether you think it's a TFCC tear or something else and if …