Apart from Arnica, what's good for bruises?

If you were a child I would suggest something cool like a wet flannel, but when we get to a certain age shins are slow to heal because of their poor blood supply. I would stick with the arnica and allow nature to do its work.

But I haven't got any arnica!

Witch Hazel perhaps? I did something similar in the winter; rushed outside to feed the birds, slipped and knocked my shin on the side of a flowerpot. It just seemed to get worse and worse [didn't help by the dog jumping on it one day when I was resting it on the sofa]. Eventually had to get it looked at by the practice nurse cause I thought I was getting phlebitis [I wasn't]. Showed it to a doctor last week as the skin is slightly brown still and it gets darker when I have a hot bath. I told her I was worried about blood clots, but she said it was just tissue damage and I must have given it quite a wack [I didn't; it was just a slight knock]. I did soak cotton wool with witch hazel and kept it raised whenever possible but probably did too little too late . The moral of this tale being take it more seriously than I did as that part of the body doesn't heal itself too well.

...and don't let Grace jump on it....

...oops phoenix; thought you were Gracesmum; start again...don't let the cats jump on it ....

I haven't got any witch hazel either

Nature will do instead of arnica phoenix.

It really does hurt! I do hope the neighbours didn't see.

Alcohol of any kind? Dabbed on for its astringent qualities and taken internally as an analgesic.

I think it was partly alcohol that caused the "incident"

I have found quite by serendipity that Atrixo hand cream seems to aid skin healing - found it was very good last winter when I had a few run ins with the door of the wood burner and more recently when I had a bit of a do with a very hot frying pan- the burns healed very well and the burnt skin peeled off and left new pink skin underneath. Maybe worth a try.
Hope it feels less painful soon.

Well phoenix go for a homeopathic approach and take more alcohol!

treat like with like eh?
ice it phoenix is what your chiros and physios always say.

I wish I'd just left the damn knife in there, but it was part of a set.

I was going to suggest ice too. Whether you administer it to your shin or add it to a glass of brandy is up to you, phoenix.

My only reservation with ice is your age! - poor blood circulation in the shin which can compromise healing so don't want to constrict the vessels too much I would have thought.

Take a couple of paracetamol maybe??

I would agree with the suggestion of witch hazel. Years ago a friend's daughter was hit in the eye by a cricket ball. I was convinced that a black eye would follow, but her mother immediately applied a pad soaked in witch hazel, after which there was no sign of any bruising - I was amazed, and have used it myself since then.

I just ignore bruises and they deal with themselves eventually.

If the skin is broken, you could cover it with a dressing until that heals over. Hope it stops being sore soon.

phoenix is still a sprightly young thing mishap guess circulation is fine.

Definitely witch Hazel.
My Mum born in 1916 used it, my kids especially the boys with bumps on foreheads, shins etc always seemed to benefit and now the Grandkids too.

Agree, witch hazel, cold from the fridge. I tend to ignore my own bumps and bruises (which for some reason are becoming more frequent these days) but it is great for GC's bumps.

Have you got any cabbage leaves phoenix? They're very soothing and can reduce swelling.....just replace them after a few hours as they warm up on your skin.

If you apply ice, do not apply it straight on skin. Wrap ice up in a light towel or something first.