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Burners and stingers are injuries to the nerves of your upper arm, at either the neck or shoulder. They often occur as a result from a collision in contact sports.
The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves that starts in your spinal cord. These nerves are responsible for giving your arms and hands feeling.
When you make or receive a hard hit with your shoulder, you can compress or overstretch the brachial plexus. This sends electricity down the nerves in your arm, often causing a burning sensation in the arms and shoulders.
Burners and stingers are most common in football.
Other athletes at risk of hard falls — such as gymnasts, skiers, and cyclists — may also get them.
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A burner or stinger — a sports injury to the nerves of the upper arm — is very common in contact or collision sports.
Burner and stinger symptoms occur in your neck, shoulder, and arm.
The most common stinger symptoms include:
The pain from a burner or stinger injury may also travel from your shoulder down to your hand.
The pain often goes away within a few minutes. However, weakness can last a while longer.
If the burner or stinger occurs during a sporting event, a physical therapist or doctor will perform an exam.
He or she will:
Your doctor may order an x-ray or MRI to rule out any other problem, such as a fracture.
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When an athlete suffers a burner or stinger, the first step is to remove them from activity and have a doctor do a physical exam.
Brachial plexus injuries resolve on their own.
Pain from burners and stingers tends to go away within seconds or minutes, but the weakness and stiffness can remain for hours or days.
Treatment options for weakness and stiffness include:
More severe burner and stinger injuries may require physical therapy.
You should not return to sports until all symptoms and neck pain are completely gone.
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