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Burners and Stingers: From Contact Sports Athletes to Shopping Enthusiasts, You Too Can Be at Risk!

 
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According to some sources on the internet, the odds of being struck by lightning are one in 576,000. However, if you are a sports enthusiast who literally likes to get in the game, you stand a significant chance of injury to the nerve supply of the upper arm that can feel like a shock or bolt of lightning down the arm. Anyone who engages in contact or collision sports (sometimes referred to as bargain shopping!) is at risk for this injury.

Burners and stingers are common injuries sustained by those who are actively involved in any sport that involves contact or potential for collision. (Have you ever tried to race someone to that last checkout line at Wal-Mart that says “20 items or less,” and you have three items while that other woman has, oh, 30 items in her basket?) In short, this injury to the nerve supply in the upper arm can be either at the neck or the shoulder. It is named for the stinging or burning sensation that soon spreads from the shoulder down to the hand. Fortunately, in most cases, this is a temporary condition and the symptoms go away as quickly as they struck. (Not to be confused with the stinging sensation of realizing your total bill at time of check-out is $100.00, and not the highly-anticipated $45.00 or so).

For basic anatomy purposes, your nerves are like electrical cables traveling through the spinal canal. These nerves carry messages from your brain to your muscles. The nerves that allow for feeling and movement to the arm come out of the spinal canal at the neck. When they join together, they form a cord of nerves. This cord is also known as the brachial plexus. All of the nerve supply to the arm goes through this plexus.

When this bundle of nerves (often my own state of mind) is injured, it can cause a burner or a stinger. This typically occurs when the head if forced to the side or down, bending the neck and pinching the surrounding nerves. (Like when your husband is trying to figure out all of those purchases on your shopping receipt).

For athletes who play contact sports, this is a common injury. Up to 70 percent of all college football players report having at least one burner or stinger over the course of their collegiate playing years. Burners and stingers can be sustained with an abrupt fall onto the head, such as in wrestling or tackle football, or perhaps in chasing that one woman down to grab that last blouse on sale on the rack at Macy’s. (I am not sure as to the actual statistics on this one, but having witnessed the last “sale of the year” at my local Macy’s, I’m confident it is pretty high).

In addition to the risk of playing contact sports, a burner or stinger may be more likely to occur in one who has a small spinal canal, a condition known as spinal stenosis.

The symptoms of burners and stingers usually occur in just one arm. They can last from mere seconds to several minutes. In a small percentage of cases, roughly five to ten percent, these can last for hours, days, or even longer. The most common symptoms include a burning or sense of electrical shock in the arm. The arm may become numb and weak immediately after injury to the area. The affected area may also feel warm.

If the weakness last more than several days and is accompanied by neck pain or symptoms in both arms, a more extensive examination by a physician may be needed. However, for the shorter-lasting episodes, imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and nerve studies are usually not necessary. (A credit report check, however, might not be a bad idea at this time.)

After experiencing a burner or a stinger, it is wise to avoid getting back into the game until the symptoms are completely gone. This may mean waiting just a few minutes or sitting the entire game out. (Unless, of course, that sale at Macy’s ends today and you have money burning a hole in your pocket. In that case, get back in there and play your heart out). An athlete should never return to the game if he or she is experiencing any weakness in the arm or associated neck pain.

If an athlete experiences burners and stingers on a frequent basis, the doctor may advise using a special neck roll or elevated shoulder pads during sporting events. (Or your husband may be forced to have you tender all credit and debit cards over to him immediately, until further notice). The injury should get better over time, but sometimes sessions with a trainer or physical therapist may be needed in order to regain the strength in the arm and its range of motion, especially if the symptoms persist for an appreciable amount of time. (After all, the holiday shopping season is right around the corner! Rest up!)

Information for this article was found at http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topci=A00027

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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