Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
Prevention
Neck stingers are neck injuries that causeacute painfrom the skull’s base to the shoulder or along the neck. The pain is burning, pinching, or shock-like and quite intense. Numbness, burning, or weakness in the arm may also occur.
While often startling, the pain of a neck stinger typically subsides within minutes or hours and resolves completely.
The medical term for a neck stinger is abrachial plexusinjury.
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This article looks at the causes, treatment, and prevention of neck stringers, sometimes called neck burners.
Symptoms of Neck Stingers
Sensations of burning, stinging, or pinching in the neck or down the arms are the primary symptoms of neck stingers.
Causes of Neck Stingers
Neck stringers are thought to happen when a quick movement causes the compression orpinchingof thebrachial plexus. This bundle of nerves runs from the back of the neck into the arm.
This type of injury can happen during quick twisting of the neck and head or an impact from the side.
Common Types of Sports Injuries
Usually, the pain of a neck stinger subsides in a minute or two without any long-term problems.
You should see a healthcare provider if the accident that caused the injury was severe, such as a car crash or a football tackle that resulted in other injuries. If pain, weakness, or loss of range of motion persists, seek out professional attention.
Any time you experience neck pain, particularly after any impact, it is important to assess whether the injury could be something more serious like a fracture. Seek immediate medical attention if both of your arms are affected or if you received a blow to the head, especially if you lost consciousness.
A healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and, if appropriate, order imaging tests like X-rays or an MRI.They will want to rule out a serious condition such as aslipped discor spinal cord problem.
Stringers are usually treated with rest, ice, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) as needed.
If you have severe or ongoing pain and see a healthcare provider, they may also recommendphysical therapyto help you recover and maintain your range of motion.
Most people recover from a stinger in a few days or weeks. If the stinger occurs during sports, you must be sure all your symptoms resolve entirely before returning to the game. If you return too quickly, the risk of re-injury is high.
What to Expect at Physical Therapy
A neck burner or stinger may be a sign you are doing something wrong that you want to correct.
Summary
Neck stringers can be painful, but they are usually short-lived. Treatment typically involves rest, ice, and pain medication. You may also want to try physical therapy.
Fortunately, most people recover from a neck stringer within a few days to weeks.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Green J, Zuckerman SL, Dalton SL, Djoko A, Folger D, Kerr ZY.A 6-year surveillance study of “stingers” in NCAA American football.Res Sports Med.2017;25(1):26-36. doi:10.1080/15438627.2016.1258642Bowles DR, Canseco JA, Alexander TD, Schroeder GD, Hecht AC, Vaccaro AR.The prevalence and management of stingers in college and professional collision athletes.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):651-662. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09665-5
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Green J, Zuckerman SL, Dalton SL, Djoko A, Folger D, Kerr ZY.A 6-year surveillance study of “stingers” in NCAA American football.Res Sports Med.2017;25(1):26-36. doi:10.1080/15438627.2016.1258642Bowles DR, Canseco JA, Alexander TD, Schroeder GD, Hecht AC, Vaccaro AR.The prevalence and management of stingers in college and professional collision athletes.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):651-662. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09665-5
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Green J, Zuckerman SL, Dalton SL, Djoko A, Folger D, Kerr ZY.A 6-year surveillance study of “stingers” in NCAA American football.Res Sports Med.2017;25(1):26-36. doi:10.1080/15438627.2016.1258642Bowles DR, Canseco JA, Alexander TD, Schroeder GD, Hecht AC, Vaccaro AR.The prevalence and management of stingers in college and professional collision athletes.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):651-662. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09665-5
Green J, Zuckerman SL, Dalton SL, Djoko A, Folger D, Kerr ZY.A 6-year surveillance study of “stingers” in NCAA American football.Res Sports Med.2017;25(1):26-36. doi:10.1080/15438627.2016.1258642
Bowles DR, Canseco JA, Alexander TD, Schroeder GD, Hecht AC, Vaccaro AR.The prevalence and management of stingers in college and professional collision athletes.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2020;13(6):651-662. doi:10.1007/s12178-020-09665-5
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