Hey all, I'm new here (as evidenced by my post count). So about two weeks ago I had an X-Ray done on my right wrist, and they came back negative. In fact, I was commended on the appearance of my bones (to my relief).

I'll start off with a rather lengthy story that I'll cut down. About two months ago, I was bench pressing, then proceeded to play basketball for a good amount of time. I didn't fall, didn't hurt myself suddenly--nothing. I get home, and after showering my wrist is suddenly killing me. I proceeded to icing it, thinking I may have sprained it. After the first month, I was experiencing dramatic improvements. However, over the last month, I have not had any noticeable improvements.

I have not yet had an MRI done--as they are expensive and I have insurance through my school, which doesn't cover all expenses. However, after going to my orthopedist yesterday, he informed me that it could be one of two things--either tendonitis from 3 straight weeks of 4 hours a day of basketball, or a tear of my TFCC. He recommended I take Ibuprofen or Advil, keep my hand in a brace, and ice it after I work out, if I so choose to (I don't experience any pain when I work out, as I have adjusted my grips and workout selection, in addition to wrapping my wrist quite well).

I really don't know which it is, though. When I rotate my wrist, I have some pain starting from my ulna (that bone on the pinky-side of my wrist?) down about 3 inches towards the middle of my forearm. When I slant my hand towards the ulna, I also feel a bit of pain there, but it does not travel further along. I can make a fist and flex without pain, and I haven't lost any grip strength. There was NO visible inflammation, swelling, or bruising at the time of the onset of pain, and my range of motion is just slightly less than my other wrist. Both my wrists crack when I turn them, but they always have without pain, and the cracking noise itself does not cause pain now, either. When I do try to crack it, sometimes I feel as though I can "lift" my hand off my wrist, if that makes any sense...I try to stay away from that now.

Anyway, I know it's a lengthy post, but I feel as though I covered most of the necessary bases?

Thanks,
Gio

Bump, DrMark?

Get the MRI, then we will know what we are dealing with.

So apparently I do have a slight tear of my TFCC, but it's not severe by any stretch of the imagination. My doc was discussing arthroscopic surgery if I wanted to do it...but my online research says there's no guarantee surgery will fix anything...

So I basically have a few questions for DrMark... can TFCC injuries lead to further injuries or concerns? Despite the pain I feel, I never lost any grip strength, and never had any visible signs of damage. My question, I guess is, with proper strapping and protection can I further injure the wrist, and if so, can this injury lead to problems, or is it just a matter of dealing with pain?

Also, I've started to take glucosamine with chondroitin, and I don't know if it's a placebo effect, but I feel better with it than with ibuprofen or Tylenol. Any advice would be appreciated!

I give everyone the supplements.  I don't do arthroscopic surgey on the TFCC because the results of arthroscopic surgery and non surgical treatment seem to be the same.  But then again,  I don't own money on my house, so I am in the minority.

Ah, cool. So do you have any recommendations for what else I can do?

Will working out risk further damage to the TFCC that can lead to other problems, or am I just dealing with pain?

Get the CTI brace, take advil and visit www.nutriex.com
Order Nutriex Sport.

I ordered the Nutriex Sport, and I plan to get a brace later today. Sorry if I seem badgering, it's just this injury has plagued me for nearly 4 months now.

What about riding or weight lifting? Can I risk further damage to the wrist by doing them, or can I start doing it again?

It won't get worse using  the part.

All right, awesome. So I'll just use the brace and start weight-training and riding again.

Thanks a bunch!

So I saw my doctor again today... luxury of my university is having specialists available even on the weekends. He recommends that I consider surgery since the pain hasn't subsided... I know, I seem overly paranoid, but as I've said... this has been nagging me for months now. It SEEMS to be getting better--as in less pain. I'm just not sure what more I could do.

I REALLY want to weight train and ride, but my doctor advises against it... He said he's not convinced that TFCC injuries are self-limited and is concerned that further damage to it could damage other parts of my wrist...

I'm totally confused now, lol, but I really miss lifting and riding. I've ordered everything you said to order, but I still feel some pain when I weight lift--standard inflammation or further damage? Sorry to keep bringing this up!

Obviously at a University (Teaching) Hospital you are headed for surgery.   The doctor-children over there need the experience. Let us know in a few months if it was worth it.

DrMark said:

Well I'm not planning to do it--the decision is still mine ultimately, and I've never liked the idea of being a lab experiment for experience, heh...

But what about the pain I feel when I use my wrist like in lifting or riding? Doesn't that interfere with the recovery that the supplements are providing?

You gotta live your life while it improves on its own.

Life deals us enough bad stuff in time, that this is really not earth shattering.

Okay, I know it seems like we've been running in a semi cycle with me, it's just that what these doctors have been saying has kind of defied logic for me. (Surgery as a primary option, telling me not to do much with my hand, etc.) So I appreciate the help you've given incredibly.

Should I take the ibuprofen/advil before or after I work out or ride? I'm assuming the pain is just inflammation, then, and not further damage.

Good idea.  Every rider needs some tylenol or advil in his gear bag.

DrMark said:

So I rode today, and I didn't feel much pain at all, but I took it easy because I was kind of concerned. Went to the gym afterwards, and felt a significant amount of pain post-workout (but none during).

Is it better to take the NSAIDs pre or post ride/exercise? And is this pain normal?

Pain is an intergral part of the life of an off road rider.
Either get used to it, or sell the bike.

DrMark said:

Haha, true that. I rode again today, took it a bit harder and yet didn't feel as much pain... I think a good portion of it is psychological, too. I know you're probably tired of this flimsy wrist injury, so this is my last comment on it.

Assuming I DON'T rest (because I can't just take off weeks at a time), would 4-6 weeks be a good estimate of when I should stop feeling any pain?

four to six months is a better estimate.