Is this too personal of a question...?

Question

OK, ummmm...I feel a little awkward asking this...Okay, people without an arm or a leg...how exactly does it PHYSICALLY feel? I mean, is there like, some empty sensation where the limb used to be, since without a prosthetic, there's nothing there? I mean, how does one get used to it? 'Cause when you have a limb you just...feel it, like something heavy but not heavy at the same time...How would you describe the feeling of something NOT there? Being 'non-existent'? If you are insulted I really didn't mean anything, honestly, I'm so sorry for asking and offending you! But if you don't mind answering, would you please? Thank you so much! Bye!

Answer 1

If you had addressed your question (subject line) to people who are missing limbs, you'd probably have a higher chance of getting a response if anyone is online who is missing a limb. As written, your subject line tells nothing about your question and is likely to be overlooked.

I had a girlfriend who was missing part of her arm, from just below the elbow, due to a birth defect. She had a prosthetic arm/hand she wore and many people spent a lot of time around her and never realized that arm and hand were fake, even though the fingers never moved and she only used the hand to balance things. She could type as fast as most 2-handed people as well, but that's because it's how she'd grown up and all she'd ever known. She never mentioned missing the arm, but her situation is different from someone who once had an appendage and then lost it.

Answer 2

People do get phantom pain and sensations where their missing limbs used to be.