Nonsurgical Treatment

If the wrist is still stable, then conservative (non-operative) care is advised. You may be given a temporary splint to wear for four to six weeks. The splint will immobilize (hold still) your wrist and allow scar tissue to form at the injury site. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed and physiotherapy will be recommended. Your physiotherapist may use ice pack and some modalities such as IFC, Ultrasound, Laser therapy so as to promote faster healing of the soft tissues.

The initial aim of treatment for a TFCC injury at Curezone Physiotherapy is to decrease the inflammation and pain around the area. As part of your treatment your physiotherapist may check your workstation posturing and the way you do your daily tasks. We will also educate you about healthy body alignment and proper wrist positions. Curezone physiotherapy preventing future problems is as much a part of our treatment as treating the current injury.

Once the initial pain and inflammation has calmed down, your physiotherapist will focus on improving the mobility and strength of your wrist and hand. They will take measurements of your wrist range of motion and grip strength to determine if there are any specific deficits to work on and to track your progress.
Simple wrist and finger stretching exercises will be prescribed and should be done within the limits of pain. Exercises to improve the motions of bending and straightening of the wrist, turning your palm up (supination) and then back over (pronation,) moving your wrist towards your little finger (ulnar deviation) and then towards your thumb (radial deviation), as well as twisting of the wrist will be given.

Strengthening exercises will also be prescribed. These exercises will focus on improving both the strength of the wrist as well as the ability of the hand to grip and exert force when twisting, grabbing, bearing weight, or doing functional activities such as those required for your work or sport. Exercises to improve strength will include eccentric exercises for the forearm muscles. Eccentric contractions occur as the muscle lengthens and the tendon and muscle is put under stretch. Eccentric exercises for the wrist are initiated by dropping the wrist down slowly at first and then also slowly returning to the neutral position. As able, the drop portion of the exercise is progressed to a quick motion. These exercises will help to build up the tensile strength in the tissues and associated muscles of the wrist to be able to control and protect the wrist. Strengthening exercises will be prescribed not only for the bending motion of your wrist, but also for the motion where your wrist moves towards and away from your thumb (ulnar and radial deviation.)

This motion, along with rotation of the wrist, are particularly stressful to the TFCC area. Your therapist will ensure that your injury is at an appropriate stage of healing before introducing eccentric exercises or strengthening ulnar and radial deviation as these types of exercises put significant stress through the TFCC area and can aggravate a healing injury. Another stressful exercise for the tissues of the TFCC is one that involves putting weight-bearing force through the wrist, such as when you push a door open with your hand or do a push up. Your therapist will add these types of exercises once they know the healing process has progressed enough to not aggravate your wrist.

To learn more about how to treat your wrist and get back to work you can call or email us and we would be happy to book you with our physiotherapist at Curezone physiotherapy Mississauga in the Heartland location.