Burner Or Stinger Nerve Injury

What is Burner or Stinger Nerve Injury

Burner or stinger Nerve injury to a set of nerves that starts in your neck and supplies feeling to your shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers (brachial plexus).

These nerves may get stretched out or may be under too much pressure (compressed), which can cause temporary feelings of burning, stinging, and other symptoms.

Burners and stingers are common in contact sports such as football, soccer, or wrestling. Symptoms usually last for only a few minutes. In severe cases, symptoms may last for a few days or weeks.

What are the causes?

Burners and stingers are usually caused by direct injury to the head, neck, or shoulder. This type of injury often occurs during a fall while playing contact sports, or during a motor vehicle collision.

What increases the risk?

You are more likely to develop this condition if:

You play contact sports.
You have poor strength and flexibility.
You have had a previous burner or stinger injury.
You wear ill-fitting shoulder pads during contact sports.
You have a small spinal canal in your neck.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms usually last for just a brief time after the injury, but sometimes they may last for a few days or weeks. Usually, only one arm is affected. Common symptoms include:

Burning or stinging pain that starts in the shoulder and shoots into the arm.
Numbness, weakness, or brief inability to move (paralysis of) the affected area. These symptoms may affect the shoulder, arm, or hand.
A tingling or “pins and needles” feeling that runs down the arm.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on your symptoms, a physical exam, and the details of your injury. You may have tests to check how severe your injury is, or to look for other problems. Tests may include:

Imaging tests such as X-rays or an MRI.
Nerve conduction tests (electromyogram). These tests measure how well your nerves are working.

How is this treated?

Burners or stingers often do not require any treatment. The symptoms usually go away in a short time. If your symptoms last longer, treatment may include:

Resting and icing the area.
Taking medicines for pain or inflammation.
Doing physical therapy to maintain strength and flexibility.

Follow these instructions at home:

Activity

Rest as told by your health care provider. Do notdo the sport or activity that caused the injury until your symptoms go away and your health care provider approves.
Do physical therapy exercises as directed. These exercises can help you maintain strength and range of motion in your arm.
Take these steps to help prevent another burner or stinger injury:
- Wear proper protective equipment for your neck and shoulder when playing sports. This may include wearing special pads or collars to protect you from another injury.
- Use proper technique when performing actions in contact sports.
- Stretch your neck and shoulder muscles before participating in sports.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

If directed, put ice on affected areas:
- Put ice in a plastic bag.
- Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
- Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

General instructions

Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay nerve healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if you:

Notice that your symptoms do not improve after 1 week of treatment or home care.
Notice that your symptoms get worse.
Have symptoms in both arms.

Get help right away if you:

Develop severe neck pain.
Cannot control when you urinate or have a bowel movement (incontinence).
Develop new or increased weakness in your arms or legs.

Summary

A burner or stinger is an injury to a set of nerves that starts in your neck and supplies feeling to your shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers (brachial plexus).
Burners and stingers are usually caused by direct injury to the head, neck, or shoulder.
These injuries are common in contact sports such as football, soccer, or wrestling.
Symptoms usually last for only a few minutes. In severe cases, symptoms may last for a few days or weeks.
Burners or stingers often do not require any treatment.

Burner or Stinger Nerve Injury Rehab

Ask your health care provider which exercises are safe for you. Do exercises exactly as told by your health care provider and adjust them as directed. It is normal to feel mild stretching, pulling, tightness, or discomfort as you do these exercises, but you should stop right away if you feel sudden pain or any increase in pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in your neck, upper back, or arms. Do notbegin these exercises until told by your health care provider.

Stretching and range of motion exercises

These exercises warm up your muscles and joints and improve the movement and flexibility of your neck. These exercises also help to relieve pain, numbness, and tingling.

Exercise A: Chin tuck, supine (

upper cervical extension)

Lie on your back on the floor. You may bend your knees for comfort.
At the base of your head, above the back of your neck, place a rolled-up towel that is about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
Gently tuck your chin by moving it down toward the floor until you feel a stretch at the back of your head and neck.
Hold for __________ seconds.