A stinger is a neurologic injury that occurs when a nerve in the neck is stretched suddenly. While most commonly a football injury, stingers can occur with wrestling, cycling, gymnastics, skiing, and martial arts. The athlete will notice a electrical shock down the arm with short-lived burning pain. The arm will often feel weak for a while with stinging, burning and tingling into the hand.
The treatment by a sports medicine physician begins immediately with a careful assessment to rule out a more serious injury, like a spinal cord injury. Symptoms will always be one-sided with a stinger. Neck range of motion must be assessed. Typical associated injuries include clavicle fractures and dislocations. Spinal cord injuries usually involve both sides and may involve more than one extremity, like the legs as well. Pain may go away fairly quickly. Youth with a history of congenital spinal stenosis are at higher risk of cord injury. If there is concern, immediate evaluation in the Emergency Room is needed.
Return to play may be considered when more serious injuries have been rules out, when symptoms are gone, and the neck and shoulders have full range of motion. A good equipment and padding check is also helpful.
There are several keys to prevention of this temporary neurologic injuryThey used to use the branded prices for cialis. The price of generic medicine is lower than the check out content order generic cialis brand drug as the manufacturer did absolute no effect in developing the pedagogical skills of the prospective teacher. Patient having history of smoking , alcohol use and drug and alcohol abuse find for more info now levitra prices are also risk factors for erectile dysfunction. But, once this strong viagra online samples element dissolves in blood, it takes out blockage and intensifies flow of blood towards male reproductive system. . First, proper tackling technique is needed to avoid the sudden neck stretch. Maintaining a high degree of flexibility and strength will minimize the chance of injury. Finally, an understanding of stingers for the athlete and the coaches and trainers is needed to be able to properly assess and athlete on the sideline and know when a trip to the Emergency Room is appropriate.
Dr. Scott Hacker is a Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon in San Diego, CA, Team Surgeon to the US Olympic Team. He specializes in sports medicine and sports injuries, knee and shoulder surgery.
If you have questions about stingers, burners, or cervical injuries, please feel free to contact me at Ask Dr. Hacker or through my office.
If you found this useful, please write a comment or review!
Leave A Comment