Big bruise and stiff muscle

[Sparkling_Fairy]

Well I’m not usually one to panic over something small, but here I am!
im currently on vacation. I went to bed last night and the left side of my neck was really sore and stiff, and it kinda went down my arm and around my back.
This morning I woke up with a big painful bruise on my left arm. It’s part purple, part red and really painful to the touch. I have no idea how I got it! I was out all day yesterday, went shopping in the afternoon and tried on clothes, and didn’t have it yet then. You would think something that big I would remember getting.

I’m assuming the bruise and muscle stiffness are related. But I’m worried it might be a blood clot or something. Is that even possible?

[BlueIris]

I doubt it, probably you just knocked it while you were shopping. No harm in getting checked out, though.

[Sparkling_Fairy]

I’m trying to rationalize it a bit. I’m staying in a 5 star hotel that really should have a star revoked. This is the hardest bed I’ve ever slept on. The left side of my neck is always tight at home, I put Voltarol gel on it a lot. So after a few nights in this bed, I’m not that surprised it’s hurting worse. My whole body is sore. So I think it’s unrelated to the bruise.
The city yesterday was packed with people so it’s likely someone bumped into me and I didn’t notice, and maybe the sleeping in the hard bed made the bruise worse.

Even with a possible DVT they tend to wait and see a few days. So I’ll wait and see if it changes like a normal bruise and if not I can get it checked out at home. It’s kinda hard on vacation.
My arm isn’t swollen or hot so I’m trying to calm down

[ErinKC]

Were you carrying around a lot of clothes? The last time I did a lot of clothes shopping I had the worst arm and neck pain over the next few days and could not figure it out until I realized I’d had all these hangers in my hand with clothes then flipped over my arm - you know that awkward way of holding a bunch of things to try on. I’m sure you could also get a bruise from pressure points on your arm.

[Carnation]

It doesn't have to be a hard knock to get a bruise.
I doubt it is a dvt. If it's purple the bruise is already coming out so this could be something that happened days ago.
It might have come from handling your suitcase or baggage. That overhead compartment on a plane for instance.
I've also had a stiff neck and back from holding hangers of clothing as well as a bag over my shoulder.

[Sparkling_Fairy]

Yeah, I was definitely holding a lot of hangers and ended up dropping a few and being my usual clumsy self trying to pick them up! I also carried my backpack around all day which always wreaks havoc on my neck. Muscles feeling a lot better already now that I'm home.
The bruise is also behaving like a normal bruise. Yesterday it was purple, today it's turning a bit yellow.

I always panic and as soon as I write it off me here, I can start to rationalize. I just always need to get it out first!

[Carnation]

You did the right thing by coming on here.
Better than goggling.
I would say your backpack or bundle of clothes has managed to squeeze the muscle on your arm causing a bruise. Purple /yellow, the right colour for a bruise.

[JHR]

This forum has been my lifeline this week can't believe the years of building it all would have been saved if I'd posted when I first joined

[Carnation]

Well, you're here now x

[Sparkling_Fairy]

You did the right thing by coming on here.
Better than goggling.
I would say your backpack or bundle of clothes has managed to squeeze the muscle on your arm causing a bruise. Purple /yellow, the right colour for a bruise.

Yeah for sure. Googling would have sent me to the hospital I think! Even a simple bruise can mean a death sentence

This forum has been my lifeline this week can't believe the years of building it all would have been saved if I'd posted when I first joined

Yeah, this forum is amazing! Everytime I feel something new I use the search function here to see if anyone has experienced it before. It's so much better than Google!