Chronic Wrist pain...help!!

[mira_16]

MRI Results:
High grade partial tear of the ulnar attachment of the TFCC with adjacent ganglion/synovial cyst. 3mm ulnar negative variance with no edema identified in the lunate.

So my question is..now what...
My GP is referring me to a surgeon but he said it will be a while. Any suggestions on how to be more functional (esp at work) without irritating this further. At this point it's been 7 months and little things such as putting on a seat belt, carrying groceries, twisting open the gas tank etc are all aggravating.

Anyone with experience treating these injuries, what do you suggest? Do you recommend surgery or not? From googling I read a lot of people had increased pain and decreased function post surgical intervention. Any treatment ideas?
Seeing as how this injury has occurred over 7 months ago, are there chances pain will decrease with further time without surgical intervention?

Thanks!!

[oscar]

Yep, sounded a lot like my TFCC tear so good to hear the MRI confirmed it

I can only really go on my own personal experience, my tear is smaller I think which may be why mine hasn't been so problematic and the pain which was as bad as you seem to be having did die down after 3 or 4 months....though recentley it has been flaring up every now and again

It's been nearly 7 years since I tore mine and its certainly got a lot better, but it's obviously something thats never totally going to go away, the main aggs are holding a book with my wrist in extension/ulnar deviation for a minute or so and pushing down through the wrist (which does make mobs difficult!). I decided against the surgery a year ago as its really not that bad now, I've sort of adapted... I wear a wrist support (a band that goes around the wrist) for exercise/heavy lifting and if its been bothering me during the day I'll sleep with a wrist splint on at night (not the most glamorous of things for night wear but never mind!). I would suggest you try and get a second opinion on the surgery though, specifically a hand specialist rather than an ortho consultant before making any decisions. I'd also try wearing a wrist splint at night to rest and immobilise it and a wrist strap/support for lifitng etc...

Sorry I can't be more helpful but from personal experience it does get a little easier with time (talking years rather than months), but may never really be 100% given the tear- saying that though the surgery could result in even less use out of it! It's probably going to be a case of getting around it and adapting what you do which ever route you go down....