TFCC tear in wrist

[dentplu]

I’ve been dealing with a TFCC tear and ECU tendon strain with instability in the wrist since I graduated five years ago. Both problems only made themselves known after I graduated and moved in to full time practice. Based on symptoms, I’ve been told that the problem has been there since my mid-teens but only really manifested after lifestyle changes i.e. dentistry caused it to.

It’s made practicing dentistry these past five years not at all fun and I have had to refer all my crown preps and extractions these past three years as both procedures seem to trigger flare ups. I generally refer all my molar endos as well. As a result, I feel like I’m practicing only 40% of what I could be practicing. Everyone I have spoken to has told me that the surgery itself has a 4-6 month recovery time and doesn’t guarantee improvement.

After nine years post secondary education and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of tuition I feel incredibly lost right now. I did a lot of basic sciences research in undergrad and part of me feels maybe I should just go back to school and transition into research or academics but again it’s a huge decision to think of taking on more loans. Another part of me wonders if I should try going back to school to specialize in a field where I’m not using my wrist quite so much but again I feel lost as I’m not even sure where to start.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and come through it successfully?

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[Typical Average Student]

If you live near a dental school, there's almost always a position open in academia being a professor. Alternatively, you could go out and represent a dental company doing sales and such. There's always a field/niche out there.

 

[vellnueve]

Either get the surgery or try something new like OMFR, Path, or maybe OFP.

 

[ddsadm]

Great option is to re-evaluate. Not easy I understand. But there is tons of great work you can do and always be the best in them. Residency in OMR, O Path, even Ortho and Research are great options. Boils down to what you can evaluate your best and most comfortable at.

 

[dent2beee]

I’ve been dealing with a TFCC tear and ECU tendon strain with instability in the wrist since I graduated five years ago. Both problems only made themselves known after I graduated and moved in to full time practice. Based on symptoms, I’ve been told that the problem has been there since my mid-teens but only really manifested after lifestyle changes i.e. dentistry caused it to.

It’s made practicing dentistry these past five years not at all fun and I have had to refer all my crown preps and extractions these past three years as both procedures seem to trigger flare ups. I generally refer all my molar endos as well. As a result, I feel like I’m practicing only 40% of what I could be practicing. Everyone I have spoken to has told me that the surgery itself has a 4-6 month recovery time and doesn’t guarantee improvement.

After nine years post secondary education and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of tuition I feel incredibly lost right now. I did a lot of basic sciences research in undergrad and part of me feels maybe I should just go back to school and transition into research or academics but again it’s a huge decision to think of taking on more loans. Another part of me wonders if I should try going back to school to specialize in a field where I’m not using my wrist quite so much but again I feel lost as I’m not even sure where to start.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and come through it successfully?

Any updates? I've been dealing with a TFCC tear for 10 months. Orthopedist thinks it'll heal eventually, but there's been little improvement.