I would love some help on how to write an amputee character, specifically a character who loses an arm. I want to make it clear that this injury has affected him and the way he moves throughout the world (zombie apocalypse), but I don't want to baby him or make him totally useless. If anyone has any tips, I would appreciate it!
One thing people don't understand is phantom pains/limbs. Just because the thing is gone doesn't mean their body has forgotten.
A "phantom limb" is a feeling that a limb - in this case, an arm - is still attached, even if it has been months or even years since its removal. One might find theirself reaching out to grab something only to realise that, of course, that part of them is gone. It happens quite often in some individuals.
Similarly, phantom pains are echoes of the injury that caused the limb to be amputated. Anyone who's had a limb amputated has experienced both at one point or another.
In a battle, losing an arm is death. The feeling wthat the limb is still attached will cause the fighter to try something with both arms, leading to a moment of shock that leaves you vulnerable. Phantom pains can distract the mind and cause lapses of judgement as your innate sense of fear of pain kicks in, causing you to act more erratic and with less thought, which 6 times out of 10 causes grave injury or the loss of your life.
that was all very new information, thank you very much!
You're very welcome.