Are TFCC tears serious?
How is a TFCC tear treated? Minor TFCC tears often heal without treatment. If you don’t have pain or weakness in your wrist, your provider may recommend letting the tear heal on its own. Some TFCC tears cause symptoms and interfere with your ability to perform daily activities.
How long does a TFCC tear take to heal?
TFCC tears that do not require surgery can take as long as 12 weeks to heal. If you have surgery to repair the TFCC, your doctor will prescribe a brace to keep the wrist immobilized for up to six weeks after surgery. A TFCC tear can take as long as three months to heal after surgery.
What percentage of TFCC tears require surgery?
Among the patients with clinical diagnosis of triangular fibrocartilage complex injury, the rate of surgical intervention required after a minimum 4 weeks of immobilization was 43%.
What happens if you don’t treat a TFCC tear?
The TFCC is what keeps the bones in the forearms, called the radius and ulna, from pulling apart. It works like a shock absorber for the joints on your hands, therefore, a tear, lesion or injury in the TFCC may cause acute wrist pain. If left untreated the pain may become chronic.
Can you live with a TFCC tear?
While most people fully recover from a TFCC tear through either physical therapy or surgery, you may still feel mild pain or stiffness in your wrist for several years. Work with your doctor to manage any residual pain or stiffness.
How often does TFCC require surgery?
Recovery time for TFCC tears that do not require surgery is generally four to six weeks. If surgery is required, it might take anywhere from six weeks to several months to restore full wrist function. Physical therapy and avoiding activities that put a pressure on your wrist might help you heal faster.
Does cortisone shot help TFCC tear?
Cortisone injections can help with pain and inflammation from TFCC tears. Cortisone is a potent anti-inflammatory and should be directed to the exact site of the tear.
How painful is a TFCC tear?
The main symptom of a TFCC tear is pain along the outside of your wrist, though you might also feel pain throughout your entire wrist. The pain may be constant or only appear when you move your wrist or apply pressure to it. Other symptoms of a TFCC tear include: a clicking or popping sound when you move your wrist.