I haven't read all the posts but I can tell you from personal experience about wounds similar to this.
Back in 1996 I received a gunshot wound in my left thigh which nicked my femoral artery. There was absolutely no pain at all (at first). The sensation was more like some kicked my leg out from under me with incredible force.
Now an arrow wound will be different because it won't hit with as much force. They are both puncture wounds though. I'll tell you that when you watch movies and someone takes a bullet in the leg and valiantly fights another 15 or 20 minutes...well that's all BS. The trauma of a wound like that is enough to take you out of the fight. You aren't going looking for the shooter. You go into survival mode.... Period.
Maybe in an extreme case where you're alone and your only chance of survival rests in killing your attacker...maybe. But if there's any chance of escape, or if you aren't alone and can get to cover behind your allies, that's exactly what you will do.
I'll also tell you that as your body loses blood, the instinct is to protect the body core, it's internal organs. Lose enough blood and your limbs will stop functioning. They will get tingly, then numb, then they will curl into your body. It's scary. It happens with you watching & not being able to make them move yourself.
If you want to write realistic combat injuries, don't have your characters fight through severe injuries (unless there's a super ability or magic involved). It just doesn't happen that way.
I'll also tell you that the pain afterwards is excruciating and the recovery exceedingly slow. Took almost a year for me, after about 3 months of agony & physical therapy. So again, if you're going for realism & your character takes a severe wound... Better count on him being out if commission awhile. At least have a way to write around that recovery time or a magical way to heal.
Back in 1996 I received a gunshot wound in my left thigh which nicked my femoral artery. There was absolutely no pain at all (at first). The sensation was more like some kicked my leg out from under me with incredible force.
Now an arrow wound will be different because it won't hit with as much force. They are both puncture wounds though. I'll tell you that when you watch movies and someone takes a bullet in the leg and valiantly fights another 15 or 20 minutes...well that's all BS. The trauma of a wound like that is enough to take you out of the fight. You aren't going looking for the shooter. You go into survival mode.... Period.
Maybe in an extreme case where you're alone and your only chance of survival rests in killing your attacker...maybe. But if there's any chance of escape, or if you aren't alone and can get to cover behind your allies, that's exactly what you will do.
I'll also tell you that as your body loses blood, the instinct is to protect the body core, it's internal organs. Lose enough blood and your limbs will stop functioning. They will get tingly, then numb, then they will curl into your body. It's scary. It happens with you watching & not being able to make them move yourself.
If you want to write realistic combat injuries, don't have your characters fight through severe injuries (unless there's a super ability or magic involved). It just doesn't happen that way.
I'll also tell you that the pain afterwards is excruciating and the recovery exceedingly slow. Took almost a year for me, after about 3 months of agony & physical therapy. So again, if you're going for realism & your character takes a severe wound... Better count on him being out if commission awhile. At least have a way to write around that recovery time or a magical way to heal.
Last edited:
Dreamer
Vala
