Neck Pain
A syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur together, in other words, a symptom complex. Symptoms of neck pain syndrome in Deerhounds include:
- Grunting, yelping, or crying out when laying down, getting up, shifting positions, stretching, or bending down to eat or drink. An affected dog may be reluctant to eat or drink at all, unless the bowl is elevated sufficiently.
- Reluctance to bend the neck. An affected dog often holds his neck rigidly extended straight in front, parallel to the ground. To avoid bending his neck sideways, a dog will follow a moving object with only his eyes or turn his whole body to keep the object in view, instead of turning his head to follow it. He’ll back out of a tight spot, instead of bending his neck or body to turn around.
Self-Care at Home - Minor injuries that have only slight pain can be treated at home. If the source of the pain and the cause of the pain are not known, or if symptoms suggest you might have a more serious condition, you should contact your doctor while initiating basic care measures.
- Pain control: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help control swelling and pain.
- Rest: Use the injured area as little as possible for the first 2-3 days, then slowly begin to exercise the injured area. This speeds recovery.
- Ice: Place the ice in a plastic bag, wrap the bag with a towel, and then apply to the injured area for 15-20 minutes every hour.
On the physical level, neck pain is not limited to pain in the neck. Most neck pain starts suddenly, and usually improves after a couple of days. Your neck will be sore and painful, especially when you try to move it. The pain may spread to your head and shoulders.
Neck pain is commonly associated with dull aching. Sometimes pain in the neck is worsened with movement of the neck. Other symptoms associated with some forms of neck pain include numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, fullness, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, swishing sounds in the head, dizziness or lightheadedness, and gland swelling.
Neck pain is experienced differently in kapha, pitta, and vata types. Kapha types are not usually prone to neck pain because of their physical structure. When they experience neck pain, it is often caused by congestion or compression of the vertebrae. Pitta types are prone to inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and nerve compression. Vata types often have excessive mobility of the joints that can cause cervical disc prolapse or neck strains. Vata types also are likely to suffer from stress-related neck pain and headaches.
In the acute phase of neck pain, treat symptoms at home with over-the-counter antiinflammatory pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium, ice for inflammation, heat for soreness, and rest.
Lifestyle changes include:
- Modifying schedules and routines to allow time to get up and stretch
- Modifying sleep position, if necessary
- Reducing stress
- Drinking more water, especially with degenerative disc conditions
The phase of yoga therapy for neck pain would include asana to address specific muscle tightness and weakness as identified during the initial intake. In general, yoga therapy should aim to strengthen the muscles of the neck and middle and upper back, the area below the pain, while stretching the front of the chest. Postures should be done dynamically with the breath to reduce vata. If postures are done statically, guard against increasing heat or moving into rajasic practice.
