Hi I was wondering what are the effects of having a fake limb.
Like any changes from a normal healthy person.
Like any changes from a normal healthy person.
Prosthectic Limb
- Thread starter DizScare
- Start date
Probably get more useful responses in the Story Research forum. Moving this thread there for you. 
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 55,680
- Reaction score
- 25,855
I don't know anybody these days who's got one, but in high school I knew two students who'd each lost a leg and had a prosthetis. Both walked with an odd gait.
Both were white middle-class kids who became high over-achievers, leaders in student government, president of the clubs, etc. We joked that nobody with two legs had a shot.
As an adult looking back, I'm sure they were both compensating for the loss, even overcompensating. I lost track of the girl, but the guy did okay in college but became an increasingly bitter adult, fairly reclusive, and angry with the world. I've attempted to find him online, but there's nothing. I have wondered if he might have killed himself.
BTW, the guy was quite the ladies' man in certain circles, and the girl was uber-pure. I'm sure body image issues affected them both.
Maryn, knowing people with more recent info will arrive soon
Both were white middle-class kids who became high over-achievers, leaders in student government, president of the clubs, etc. We joked that nobody with two legs had a shot.
As an adult looking back, I'm sure they were both compensating for the loss, even overcompensating. I lost track of the girl, but the guy did okay in college but became an increasingly bitter adult, fairly reclusive, and angry with the world. I've attempted to find him online, but there's nothing. I have wondered if he might have killed himself.
BTW, the guy was quite the ladies' man in certain circles, and the girl was uber-pure. I'm sure body image issues affected them both.
Maryn, knowing people with more recent info will arrive soon
As far as risks, people who have prosthetic limbs, particularly legs, are at risk for getting sores or skin breakdown where their leg fit into the prosthesis. They have to be meticulous about monitoring this because the weight distribution can ulcerate the skin.
Occasionally they can have back problems from doing things less symetrically: perhaps they have one prosthetic arm and one biological arm -- they might use the bio arm more, and as a result overcompensate on that side.
Occasionally they can have back problems from doing things less symetrically: perhaps they have one prosthetic arm and one biological arm -- they might use the bio arm more, and as a result overcompensate on that side.
Yea and phantom pain, too. Sometimes the person can continue to have hand pain decades after the hand was lost in an accident. But that isn't really because of the prosthesis, if that is what you are going for.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 55,680
- Reaction score
- 25,855
Oh, yes, the itch Bill had sometimes became a burning, in the phantom limb. I gather the longer since the amputation, the less this is an issue.
This thread made me look for him again. He was alive as of summer 2011, when his father died at 88. I hope he got past his issues.
Maryn, who can't remember the girl's last name
This thread made me look for him again. He was alive as of summer 2011, when his father died at 88. I hope he got past his issues.
Maryn, who can't remember the girl's last name
My little brother is missing a leg, so...
Phantom pains, definitely. Especially when they're lost after a person is born. When you lose a leg, you'll have something called phantom pains while you sleep; in your mind, the limb will still be there, and it'll hurt. But it'll just be air that you're clutching at.
Wearing a prosthetic and walking around on it for too long (if we're taking about legs) can cause pain. After a while the bone at the end of the limb will begin to ache.
Again, thinking about legs, the knees will probably develop calluses if the character is young, because they'll be forced to crawl around. Their knuckles might also develop calluses if they decide to crawl that way. The remaining limb will become quite strong, being forced to take on the work that otherwise would have been shared equally.
Because prosthesis can chaff skin, they normally put lamb's wool inside to keep the skin safe.
Also, if they were born without the limb, the bone may keep growing and eventually might grow sharp and unsafe. Surgeons will have to go in and place a staple over the bone to keep it from growing further and hurting the person. After about half a year they'll go back in and remove it.
Phantom pains, definitely. Especially when they're lost after a person is born. When you lose a leg, you'll have something called phantom pains while you sleep; in your mind, the limb will still be there, and it'll hurt. But it'll just be air that you're clutching at.
Wearing a prosthetic and walking around on it for too long (if we're taking about legs) can cause pain. After a while the bone at the end of the limb will begin to ache.
Again, thinking about legs, the knees will probably develop calluses if the character is young, because they'll be forced to crawl around. Their knuckles might also develop calluses if they decide to crawl that way. The remaining limb will become quite strong, being forced to take on the work that otherwise would have been shared equally.
Because prosthesis can chaff skin, they normally put lamb's wool inside to keep the skin safe.
Also, if they were born without the limb, the bone may keep growing and eventually might grow sharp and unsafe. Surgeons will have to go in and place a staple over the bone to keep it from growing further and hurting the person. After about half a year they'll go back in and remove it.
Last edited:
Depending on your character's personality, they may have 2 or 3 prosthetic limbs. One for walking around, one for running (like marathons or 5ks?)... I am sure there are more types but as I currently have all 4 limbs my knowledge is limited.
If it's a kid, the limb has to be replaced pretty regularly as the kid grows.
If the amputation occurs above the knee or elbow, that affects the outcome... I've seen people w/ below the knee prosthetics that are good enough that you can't even tell they are wearing a prosthetic. I think above the knee prosthetics change your gait though... I remember seeing a girl on the news w/ above the knee prosthetics on both legs, and when she ran her legs went kind of... outward.