Neck & Head
Stinger / Burner
Also called: Burning arm after a hit or fall
A lightning bolt of burning pain and tingling shooting down one arm after a collision, tackle, or fall — the signature nerve injury of football, wrestling, and hard falls. The nerve bundle between neck and shoulder gets stretched or compressed for a moment. Most stingers resolve in minutes and fully recover — but the return-to-play rules exist because the repeat ones and the ones that don't fade quickly mean something more.
Common signs
- Sudden burning, electric pain from neck/shoulder down one arm at the moment of impact
- Tingling or numbness in the arm, sometimes brief weakness
- Symptoms in ONE arm (this matters — see red flags)
- Typically fading within seconds to minutes
Seek help now if
- Symptoms in BOTH arms or any leg symptoms after a hit — that's a spinal cord concern: do not move, activate emergency care
- Neck pain with the event, weakness that persists, or symptoms lasting beyond 24 hours — examination before any return to play
- A second stinger in the same season — full evaluation, not just a shrug
- Loss of consciousness or concussion signs with the hit (assess both)
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Out of play immediately, sideline assessment: neck exam, strength testing of the arm, symptom check — return only when symptoms are fully gone AND strength is full
- Persistent or repeat stingers: proper examination of the neck and nerve pathways before resuming contact
- Begin the protective work: neck strengthening and shoulder-pad/technique review are the proven risk reducers
If it's become chronic
- Recurrent stingers demand a deeper look — imaging for a narrowed nerve canal or disc contribution, because repeated episodes can compound
- A structured neck and trap strengthening program measurably reduces recurrence in collision athletes
- Tackling technique (eyes up, never spear) is protective equipment you carry in your habits
Natural healing options we use
- Chiropractic and manual care for cervical and first-rib mechanics after clearance
- Progressive neck and scapular strengthening program
- Nerve-glide work during recovery
- Attended e-stim for the recovering pathway; B-vitamin and omega-3 nerve support
About imaging
Not needed for a single classic stinger that clears fast; MRI and electrodiagnostics enter for bilateral symptoms, persistence, or recurrence.
Daily self-care
- Full honesty with symptoms — playing through a stinger risks the season, not just the play
- Year-round neck strength work for collision athletes
- Report every recurrence; the count changes the plan
More in Neck & Head
WhiplashCervical Sprain/StrainCervical Disc HerniationCervical RadiculopathyCervical Facet SyndromeCervical Degenerative Disc Disease & SpondylosisCervical Spinal StenosisCervicogenic Headache
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.