Stingers

 

The nervous system and the musculoskeletal system are closely linked. As chiropractors, we at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro spend a lot of time treating nerve impingements in the back that have consequences along the nerve’s length. But the spinal column isn’t the only place where nerves can be compressed, and our practice is devoted to the entire body. A stinger, also known as a burner, is a kind of radiating pain that moves along the arm due to a nerve injury, and since our own Dr. Jay McClanahan commonly encounters them as a sports physician, we wanted our patients to understand how they work.

The nerves that run down our arms and hands emerge from the bones in our lower neck, which are called cervical vertebrae. Although they emerge separately, they bundle together in the shoulder before dividing again. A stinger is what happens when those nerves are stretched by the head being suddenly forced to the opposite side while the shoulder is being forced down. Electricity discharges from the nerves and pain radiates along the arm. Usually, stingers don’t last long, and if one occurred during a sports competition, the patient quickly returns to play. But suffering one stinger puts a person at greater risk for additional ones. Repeated stress to the nerves, neck, and shoulder tissues can accumulate into tears, and stingers may be accompanied by subluxations of the cervical vertebrae that impinge the nerve roots.

An athlete who has suffered a stinger should not return to play until their neck pain is completely gone. Even afterward, they may need to wear extra padding on their neck and shoulder. However, if a person is suffering long-term pain, we can assist them with relief and help get them in a position to play again. We provide electric muscle stimulation and therapeutic massages to reduce inflammation in the neck and shoulder and improve those muscles’ flexibility. We also perform chiropractic adjustments to the neck to reduce pressure on nerve roots and the muscles running from the head to the shoulder. Athletes will need to stay active while recovering from stingers to prevent their muscles from stiffening, so we also provide advice on physical therapy.

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520.