What to expect from a cortisone injection for a TFCC tear

The triangular fibrocartilage complex supports the little-finger side of the wrist. Medicine is placed into or around the painful wrist region, sometimes with imaging guidance. Local anaesthetic may numb the wrist briefly; cortisone is intended to reduce irritation over the following period. A better pain level can help examination and rehabilitation, but clicking, instability or pain from a significant tear may remain. The injection is not a repair procedure.

Tell the clinician about medicines that affect bleeding, diabetes, allergies, infection or earlier injection reactions. Keep the wrist protected from forceful twisting, heavy gripping and impact until you receive a return-to-activity plan. A splint may be recommended for a short time. Use the response to guide rehabilitation rather than testing the wrist with demanding tasks. Record changes in pain, grip, clicking and motion for the review appointment.

Contact the service if swelling, warmth, redness or discharge at the injection site increases, or if wrist pain becomes progressively worse. Get urgent help for severe allergic symptoms, major new weakness, spreading numbness or a hand that becomes unusually pale, blue or cold. Ongoing clicking or instability deserves reassessment because pain relief alone cannot show whether the TFCC has healed.

Ask whether the injection is diagnostic, therapeutic or both, where the medicine will be placed, and how long to use a splint. Discuss safe wrist exercises, signs of instability, and the next step if pain or mechanical symptoms continue.