What the f*** have I done to my arm?!

[reallybadidea]

OK, so this is not a stealth boast, but I'm on holiday in central America and a couple of days ago we went ziplining. They go really fast, and you slow yourself down by pressing down with your hand on the line. A few times I braked way too hard and my arm got jolted badly as my body carried on down the line with my hand still hanging on to the line. It hurt a bit at the time, but two days later I can't straighten my arm at the elbow and the whole upper arm in to my elbow is extremely sore and possibly a bit swollen.

Any ideas what I've done?! I'm taking pain killers but as long as I don't move it much it's bearable. Not sure what a doctor would do about it tbh and it would be a right hassle to try and find a Dr/hospital where we are at the moment.

I'm betting ligaments, how many days until you could get to an Xray machine?

Not really sure where the nearest hospital is, probably a few days before we get to a biggish town. If it was ligaments how would it be treated?

Probably Sod all for ligaments, immobilise, anti-inflammatories and take it easy.

With a break you feel shaken up, the swelling is quick, it hurts a lot right at the time and it's usually an obvious impact moment.

Friend actually detached ligaments and that also was overwhelming immediately.

Tendons are another soft tissue possibility & medical types can do even less to help there; tendon & related injuries are usually from chronic use.

Is there any chance you got an insect bite instead, but didn't realise? Is there red swelling?

ps: obviously am not medically qualified, but I've had RSI & 3 broken arms & recurring whiplash which is a ligament injury; whiplash you feel the next day after the event.

Thanks ragged. Pretty sure it's not a bite, it's not red, just sore and aches. Thinking about it, immediately after I did it my arm felt very weak, almost numb. Doesn't feel weak anymore though.