Understanding the condition
A stinger, also called a burner, follows stretching or compression of nerves around the neck and shoulder. It often occurs during a tackle or collision. Similar symptoms can arise from a more significant neck or brachial plexus injury.
What might you notice?
- Sudden burning or shooting pain into one arm.
- Tingling, altered feeling or temporary arm weakness.
- Repeated symptoms with contact sport or neck movement.
These symptoms can have more than one cause. A clinical assessment is needed to establish the diagnosis.
Specialist assessment
Examination checks the neck, shoulder, sensation and muscle strength. Persistent weakness, neck pain or recurrent episodes may require imaging or nerve tests. A normal-feeling arm immediately after an episode does not replace a proper assessment when symptoms recur.
Your treatment options
Stop the activity and protect against another impact. Rehabilitation may address strength, movement and sporting technique. Return to play requires resolution of symptoms and restoration of normal strength and pain-free movement, with appropriate clinical clearance.
Common questions
Can I return to sport as soon as the burning stops?
Pain relief alone is not enough if weakness, numbness or restricted neck movement remains. A clinician should guide return to contact sport.
Why do repeated stingers matter?
Repeated episodes warrant assessment for an underlying neck or nerve problem and a review of how to reduce further injury.
General patient information from London Nerve Injury. Decisions about investigations and treatment require an individual clinical assessment.