Chiropractic: What Is A Stinger?

You may have heard of an athlete in a contact sport (football, rugby, ice hockey, wrestling) receiving a “stinger.” This injury occurs when the head and neck are forced to the side and the nerves that branch off the spinal cord in the neck become compressed. This can cause a stinging or shooting pain down one arm, followed by numbness or weakness. These injuries often go unreported because symptoms can quickly resolve, but if left untreated, repeated trauma can result in persistent pain or arm weakness.
WebMD, 1999