I’ve used nearly my whole barn vet kit on myself at one time or another, but I’ll add to the pile that this is a call for your doc.
And if icing isn’t doing it, poultice is really unlikely to make a bigger difference. Do you have a game ready?
Definitely give your surgeon a call. Hope it’s nothing severe and you have a positive update to share soon 
Definitely contact your doctor ans describe what’s going on. Don’t put anything on an incision site that’s not cleared with them first.
I routinely use Sore No More on myself. The last time I did was when my mare bit me (by mistake! she was aiming for the flake of hay I was carrying under my arm - she immediately realized her mistake and looked soooo embarrassed lol) . She didn’t break the skin because I had 2 layers of clothing on, but it hurt like he11 and a nasty bruise developed right away. Using the Sore No More right away lessened the pain and prevented any swelling. I followed up with arnica gel at home and the bruise disappeared quickly.
That said, I am more likely to use human meds/creams (Nexium, Wound wash, Neosporin etc) on my horse than the other way around.
It’s really best to read the product label before making such a determination. Just because it’s labeled for horse use doesn’t mean it’s any stronger than a human product or will cause chemical burns. For example, the A.I. for Biofreeze (human) is 4% menthol, same as Absorbine Liniment Gel (horse). Bigeloil liniment is only 2% menthol. Horse skin isn’t really much thicker/tougher than human skin.
I have seen some very ugly burns on grooms at the track when they used horse liniment on themselves.
One had terrible burns on his elbow after he blistered it with horse liniment when it was sore.
All I will say, use those kinds of horse products on people with caution.
I’ve seen ugly burns on horses from liniment products as well, it’s not tied to using a horse product on a human, it’s the nature of the chemical itself. I always dilute liniments 50/50 with water when I use them on the horses.
I’ve used Arnica gel and Sore no More Gelotion on sprained ankles - but not open skin.
I’ve used Absorbine gel on various strains/sprains but never used anything on broken skin.
Another vote for don’t do it and call your dr.
No but I do quite often use my horses fancy expensive ice boots on my dodgy knee.
In your case I’d give your doc a ring.
Call your doctor. I just had a total shoulder replacement and had no arm swelling, but my fingers were swollen for well over a week. I did the ball squeezes, but what helped it most was when I was up and moving around.
Sounds like your shoulder / arm had a lot of trauma and I imagine you will have swelling for a while. Are you in any pain?
What are you using to ice it? When I had an open rebuild of my shoulder (Bankhart repair) I had a unit with a special cuff that went over my shoulder and was attached to a container with ice water. I can’t remember what it was called. It pumped water through the cuff and lasted for hours and was comfortable.
The surgeon warned me not to cheat on the exercises so my shoulder wouldn’t freeze.
I’ve used Sore No More and Effol’s gel liniment many times as well as ice boots lol. My mom used Sore No More regularly with both of her knee replacements (with full blessing from her PT who is a horse person).
I had an infected cyst on my back, years ago now. I showed it to my doc. He said, “Yup, that needs to come out. But it is too infected right now, so here is a perscription for some antibiotics”. I got the antibiotics, and took them like a good girl. But I also put an epsom salt poultice on it at night, taped into place. When I went back for the thing to be removed, the doc was VERY impressed with how much it had cooled out, looked far better than he thought it would. He removed it with the superficial surgery in his office. I knew this doc for a long time, he was a bit of a family friend. I sent a lot of horse owning people to him as patients with my recommendation. He told me that he loved working on horse people. He said that they came in with the most horrific looking things, injuries etc, which the first thing they told him was that they had been treating it themselves, with horse medication, and it was looking WAY BETTER now that he was seeing it. This doc learned was “vet wrap” was.
PS- OP, you need to take your issue to you doc, it is not something that you should be treating without professional input and guidance.
Thank you to all who responded to my question. I apologize that i wasn’t very clear. hard to type a lot with one hand when other hand is so swollen and painful. I am not wanting to put anything on the wound which is bandaged. today I am only 1 week post surgery. the problem is that i fell and broke the ball off the humerus and displaced the humerus. Due to just having moved and not having a PCP and being 2 hr from any facility able to deal with injury like this,it took 10 days and lots of hassle to be able to schedule surgery. during all the wait time, my forearm and hand are very swollen. I was just trying to explore ways to get swelling down enough to be able to do exercises…Ice packs aren’t helping much.
I see the PA in 3 days.
Mary in western ny
I would still try to do a phone consult. Before I applies any poultice or whatnot, would a compression bandage help to move the fluid? Again, a consult with your PA or doctor first.
Mary-sorry to hear that things aren’t going well. Is there any way you can elevate the arm/hand? That might help reduce the swelling. Even if you just lay on the other so that the injured arm is on top? Also, a zip lock with alcohol/water mix will freeze colder than just water and stay softer as well. Sue and I miss you at lunch. Hope you start doing better soon! Linda
because my shoulder was badly broken for 10 days before surgery-ball broken off humerus plus rotator cuff torn up-i’m guessing that’s the origin of the excessive swelling and PAIN
I’m able to get by on one hydrocodone/day now so things are improving
funny thing is that i had consulted with a shoulder surgeon 2 weeks before the accident and he said i needed both shoulders replaced. Scheduled to get the worst one (right) done in November. Now i’ve got a left reverse shoulder replacement instead. Never know what life will bring
miss you two too. i’m using frozen peas and sometimes they are too cold. i also got an Aircast device that allows me to
'wear" a cold compress over my shoulder.
You poor thing!! I have some issues with my left shoulder as well but am in no hurry to look at getting anything done until I have to. I can use it normally and reach , lift etc, with just some discomfort that I can endure without meds. I can’t fathom needing both.
Is it doing any better for you swelling wise?
Mary, I can’t offer any more help than you’ve already received but know that Linda and I are quite worried about you. Bob can take care of the cats and I know you have help with the horses. Linda came down today to bring some sewing things and said you’d posted so I wanted to offer any and all support I can.
Sue
That Aircast device is what I used. I liked it. They told me to make huge ice cubes because it keeps the water colder for much longer because regular ice cubes melt so fast.
Bags of frozen peas were stocked in the freezer at our curling club. We had to make sure to label them. Otherwise one of the dinner leagues would use them for a vegetable, :lol:
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