Dalmation vs Shoulder

My dalmation is 8 years old and he recently injured himself, he has a knot around his shoulder blades.  He can't lift his head up more the parallel with the ground and sometimes cripples down when trying to lay his head.  He's on tramadol and flamodadine for now...looks to be a sprain cause he can still walk and wag his tail.  Any ideas?  Temps fine, stools fine, gums are fine, wants to be normal again, but can't bear the pain....keep him on pain meds and rest?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Don't us hot compresses, please use cold compresses.  

If your dog has not had a complete series of radiographs (X-Rays) he should.  It sounds like more than just a sprain or strain.   If it is just his shoulder that it affected it could be dislocation, subluxation, a ligamental tear, or fracture.  There could also be nerve damage since the Brachial Plexus comes off the spine at this area.  The brachial plexus is a network of nerves in the shoulder area that controls the muscles of the chest, upper arm and shoulder.

[Casperatx]

Forgot to mention we were playing ball when this happened.  He eats if we put broth in his food.  We are putting warm compresses on it for 10 minutes once an hour also.

[Circe123]

I would get the dog to your vet for a full examination asap. It is not at all normal for a mildly injured dog to display a level of pain response so severe that he cannot raise his head. He could easily have spinal injury and may need radiographs. A "knot" may be severe swelling / inflammation. You can't generally 'feel' strained muscles.
Your poor baby is in a LOT of pain by the sounds of it. Tramodol is probably not the most effective drug to use here and your vet should be able to prescribe a longer lasting medication.