Questions about artificial limbs early 1900's

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Thu April 21st, 2011, 3:25 pm

I won't name the book to avoid possible spoilers, but Vanessa will know what book it is and perhaps it's best she avoid this thread if she prefers to stay 100% spoiler free.

One character had a leg amputated in previous book and now wears artificial limb. Said character has been living for some years in the Himalayas and doing lots of mountain climbing, and unassisted at that. There's been mentions of the artificial limb, but not about...say...how the limb is attached nor when and where one would remove the limb.

Anyhoo, after scratching my head trying to figure out how character scrambles around glaciers alone and without much climbing equipment, we've also had the big love scene and no mention from either her or her partner about it, as in wouldn't she be concerned with his reaction to it and shouldn't he be the loving partner and assure her it matters? Or was the limb just forgotten by the author?

Secondly, now our amputee has awakened from unconsciousness after a serious accident and the first thing we get is trying to get some feeling in her arms and legs. Does an artificial limb have movement like that?

No mention of the artificial limb from her captors either. It's like it's just been swept under the carpet and forgotten.

annis · Post by **annis** » Thu April 21st, 2011, 8:36 pm

It might depend on the timing. Earlier prosthetic legs were relatively heavy and often made of wood. After 1912 aluminium, which is much lighter, came into use. Several modern amputee climbers like NZer Mark Inglis have tackled Mt Everest in recent times, but not alone, and even with advanced carbon fibre technology it's a painful business with constant rubbing and pressure on the stump area. How a lone climber would get on I don't know- she'd have been in major trouble if her artificial leg broke. Inglis broke one of his artifcial legs on Everest and had to do a McGyver and fix it with duct tape!

And I would definitely think anyone with something like an artificial leg or say, a mastectomy, would feel a bit diffident when it came to starting a physical relationship with someone new.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Thu April 21st, 2011, 9:03 pm

Thanks Annis that helps. It didn't even occur to me that a limb could break. I am definitely going to have questions for the mountain climbing boss when he gets back in town. I'm still rolling my eyes over slipping, arresting the fall and only having a couple of broken fingernails

And I would definitely think anyone with something like an artificial leg or say, a mastectomy, would feel a bit diffident when it came to starting a physical relationship with someone new.

That would make more sense to me as well, even if she'd known the person for years. Most authors do include something about even a serious scar or other deformity.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Thu April 21st, 2011, 9:05 pm

Maybe the author forgot? Reminds me of all the thrillers where the hero gets beaten to a bloody pulp and then, within hours, does amazing feats of physical strength and speed while chasing the villain through alleys, over rooftops, etc., and then to top it off has sex with the heroine at day's end.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Thu April 21st, 2011, 9:39 pm

[quote=""Margaret""]Maybe the author forgot? Reminds me of all the thrillers where the hero gets beaten to a bloody pulp and then, within hours, does amazing feats of physical strength and speed while chasing the villain through alleys, over rooftops, etc., and then to top it off has sex with the heroine at day's end.[/quote]

That's what I'm guessing. Lol, I love those injuries that disappear with the wink of an eye.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri April 22nd, 2011, 2:43 pm

OK, now I hopefully have one last question. Character had leg amputated. It's been YEARS, but she's still popping some pretty strong pills, with the excuse to friends that her "leg" is paining her. Does this happen in real life?

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Fri April 22nd, 2011, 3:08 pm

"Phantom limb pain" is a real and documented complaint. People have complained of a missing hand/arm/leg etc. cramping, burning, itching, whatever. Some neurologists have had success with using a mirror apparatus where the person can "see" the missing limb (actually the remaining limb from the other side) and having the person relax, massage, scratch the (false image) phantom limb which relieves the symptoms. The brain is a marvelous, mysterious thing!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri April 22nd, 2011, 4:00 pm

Thanks, I had heard of people still imagining *feeling* their limb, but it was the severe pain I was unsure of. I'm just getting cranky as the limb in question seems to be a plot device when it's needed, but then quickly disappears when it isn't.