I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

On Friday, I got hurt playing hockey, when I took a shot directly to my forearm. I'm operating with the understanding that this is a deep contusion (based on what doctor doing cursory check 15 minutes afterwards said). This really sucks.

It's a lot better by now, but I'm still feeling some dull pain throughout the entire shoulder, upper arm, lower arm, wrist & outside of my hand. I'm also still experiencing discomfort if I have to: fully extend my arm out sideways, grip and hold anything with weight, or rotate my arm too much inwards.

I haven't been in the gym since Friday (I played hockey once since then, but could not do anything puck-related without pain). As you might imagine, this lack of activity is driving me crazy. I've just finished 5 solid weeks in my program, so taking a week off from the gym isn't the WORST thing, but I'm not happy about it, and I don't want to let one week of rest turn into more than that.

What I am looking for are ideas of how I can put together a workout with some exercises that will be taxing on the rest of my body without requiring my right arm to provide strength or stability. [I will have to work on maintaining range of motion and preventing atrophy with that arm separately.]

Normally, I'm a free weight/compound lift devotee, and that's pretty much out. Obviously, power cleans, deadlifts, benching - not possible. I had hoped to be able to squat, but I tested the hand positioning with a stick and realized that I would struggle once any weight was on a bar. I need ideas that involve those machines I normally ignore in the gym or maybe the cables. Everything seems like such a hurdle. It occurred to me that even using the leg press machine means loading those 45 plates up, and I cringe at having to do that with only my non-dominant side...

Please do not bother telling me to see a doctor. I am 85-95% sure that the original call (deep bruise, nerves irritated) is right, and I did see significant improvement after the first 48-72 hours. If it doesn't start to get better again within the next 3-4 days, I will get it checked out.

Some ideas: stationary bike, stairstepper, treadmill, any lower body resistance machines (e.g., leg press and hack squats), ab work, running. And I wouldn't worry about atrophy unless there is something seriously wrong.

a deep contusion ? yeah right haha

Excuse me? I fail to see what is doubtful or amusing about this...

oh sorry nothing :P
I just thought it was a rough call by the doc once again
but reading more of your post i guess it probably is

Well, since it is hockey, I can see how "arm contusion" really should be listed as "ankle sprain" or "flu-like symptoms." Hehe. Never want the opposition to know what's really wrong. But this ain't the NHL playoffs!

Actually, I did see a doctor this evening, because the pain was not localized and seemed to be getting worse. Plus, I'll be flying and was nervous about getting on a plane with internal bleeding, pain, and no medical clearance. The doctor oked my trip, but is very worried about existing (and potential for more) nerve damage, so it looks like recovery is going to be more than just "rest for a few days."

Doctor to sig: You didn't actually try to play again with this, did you???
sig <sheepish looking at floor>: I was only trying to test it out...I didn't even go lift in the gym this week!
Doctor: You mean you can't lift heavy objects? When you can't use your arm???

After making sure my xrays are clean, getting my steroid prescription (and to think I train clean! haha), my appointment for starting physical therapy, my MRI "prescription" (for next week), and a promise of a nerve test in a few weeks from now, I was heading out the door.

A thought occurred to me, though, so I stopped to ask the doctor, "Wait, I know this sounds stupid, but...is there anything I *can* do in the meantime?"
The doctor laughed at me and said, "You mean like shooting hoops?"

Have I mentioned that this sucks??? It looks like I will need to come up with some ideas of how to keep moving besides stationary biking and treadmill or I will go insane...

It will be pretty hard to tell what you can do work out wise without just trying it. If I were you I would do some cardio training and let it recover.