So, I was thinking about my current novel, and the fact that injuries in it aren't as severe as they should be.

For instance, my character, Etavke, is injured when someone throws a spear at his shoulder. But he doesn't react to the damage like he should.

I have other situations, but thoughts on the first one?

Thanks!

Can you give more details? I don't really know how to help...yet.

All I can say without more details is you could spend a few minutes thinking about what it'd be like to have a huge spike thrust through your shoulder, how you think it'd affect your posture, your mind, think what you would feel in the situation and then try to apply his character to that to see what he'd do in the situation.

How damaging is a spear embedded in your shoulder, is it likely that it would hit your shoulder, how bad would it bleed, would you go into some kind of severe shock...

Is that what you need?

A spear in your shoulder would probably bleed a lot if it weren't stanched pretty quickly you would probably bleed to death.

The thing people don't take into account a lot of times is that when you have a hunk of metal stuck through your arm its going to mess up your bones, tendons, muscles most bad injuries (especially in a medieval era without much medical knowledge) would render the hurt place almost useless and disabling the person for life.

I agree, it would likely bleed a lot and end in death if the bleeding weren't stopped really soon, plus unless there is really good medical assistance available in your world, his shoulder will probably never work (at least not the same) again.
I think severe bloodloss can probably cause shock, but I'm not really sure.

Any injury can cause shock, because shock is when blood isn't reaching the vital organs. So, yes, a spear injury would cause severe shock.

That's useful info...thanks Varon. *feels funny saying that when it's not even his thread, but shrugs and pushes 'submit' anyway*

Hmm...So my character would need a bandage on it immediately if he were to survive?

I've actually suffered from shock before, when I cut my finger nearly to the bone with a drill bit, and from that injury, I could barely stand. What are the side affects of shock from a spear wound?

You're welcome.

I think they'd be the same as any case of severe shock; just compounded with blood loss.

I think it'd take more than a bandage though.

What would it take?

Probably many layers of wrappings, and some blood clotting substances.

Pressure, tourniquets, cauterization wouldn't be out of the picture, nor amputation. In the Iliad, there are multiple deaths from a spear to the shoulder so it's not as safe as it seems. Lots of arteries and veins in there.

Like a backpack strap that wraps all the way around your armpit. If you extend your arm lateral you'll notice a natural divot between your Trap muscle and Deltoid muscle. That's where you wrap it because the Axillary vein and artery are located in that armpit area.

A sling for that arm would also be in order.
Unless he was really (REALLY) lucky, or someone can heal it magically, or there is advanced medicine in your world, he is going to have trouble lifting his arm even after it heals, especially up past chest level. If he can lift it at all. He is going to have some nerve damage, and have loss of feeling in some or all fingers and areas on his arm. He may also have odd tingling sensations.

I don't think the arm could be amputated high enough to do any good. The shoulders are very near the heart, and so especially if he was stabbed in his left shoulder, it is going to bleed VERY badly, even if it is not amputated.

His arm is probably going to feel like a limp noodle, except EXTREMELY painful. Immediate bandaging would be in order, and even assuming the wound is not deep, it will need to be sanitized as soon as possible, also. Especially if he is in battle when this happens-even if the spear is clean, has not been recycled from another kill, there will be many bacteria and germs flying around. And again, an infection so close to the heart will obviously reach the heart faster, where it will pump into the whole body.

All in all, even with immediate treatment, your character is likely to die (from a medical standpoint).