How do I know if I’ve hurt my arm?

[Horseandpony]

Sorry bit of a stupid title but just unsure! Hope it’s ok to post here and ask for advice

I was kicked in the arm by my horse. I was standing at his side grooming him and it was a total freak thing- he suddenly kicked out his back forward because there was a horsefly biting him and he tried to kick it but instead he booted my lower arm

it was agony at the time but the pain quickly went away. It’s only bruised a tiny bit, only a little swollen and only hurts if I touch it (it’s sore when clothes touch it and agony when I actually press or touch it but obviously I’m not going to be pressing it!) but in terms of actually using my arm and my fingers it doesn’t really hurt and it’s fine. I was very surprised as as soon as I was kicked I thought it would be smashed- horse in question is 16.2hh with metal shoes!

it’s obviously not broken or seriously hurt and doesn’t need a&e, but for something like this would I be best to treat it like I would for a sprain or stretch and RICE it? Or is it better to keep it moving to stop it seizing and stiffening?

thanks- any advice would be really appreciated!

I think you need an XRay OP. Little breaks/cracks/chips are like yours but better to know.

Soft tissue injuries need to be kept mobile otherwise so as to avoid overly rigid scar tissue formation.

See how it is in the morning though - I wouldn't be ruling out a broken bone at this stage.

I don't think what I just wrote was even close to a real sentence! Hope you got this gist.

Please do get it checked over as soon as you can, just to be sure.

I think you should get it checked out - even if it is unbroken bone bruises are not to be messed with. I can't really imagine that the muscles of your forearm are sufficient protection against a shod horse

iced elevated & mobile in the mean time

I’ve broken my leg and carried on with it for a couple of weeks. It hurt, but not as much as I imagined a break would hurt and I was walking around on it without limping.

I went to the doctors thinking I had possibly sprained it and it maybe needed a support bandage.

Get your arm checked.