Mer Prosthetic Arms

[Dee Tal]

So I have been recently having arthritic symptoms in my hands that seem to be progressing rather rapidly and it got me thinking. If eventually my hands become useless for some reason I think I'd like to have them removed then build two of these tentacle arms. http://www.coroflot.com/kaylenek/PROSTHETIC-ARM

I could also imagine making ones specifically for swimming too that would look very realistic (cetacean style).

[MerAnthony]

They look cool but I don't think they would work to well for swimming.

[Dee Tal]

That's why I would make different ones for swimming. The tentacle ones would be for dry land only.

[malinghi]

Cool concept, although I really hope you get to keep your hands.

[AniaR]

I appreciate that. I don't have that, but I have a different illness which essentially causes the same type of pain and immobility. It's infuriating. I don't think I'd remove my hands though...

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

It is possible to live a perfectly normal life without hands (I even saw a bookstore clerk who moved with amazing fluidity despite apparently being a multiple amputee), but I think there are cooler ways to have tentacles then to require them for hands, even if Callisto from the X-men did look really cool with tentacles.

http://images.wikia.com/marveldatabase/images/f/f8/Callisto_004.jpg

Also, in mermaid-related literature, having hooks for amputations of hands is more popular, as evidenced by a certain captain.

[roamingmer]

It saddens me to hear that you would want to remove hands or limbs when the pain gets too much / immobile. I work a lot with stroke and sci patients who have limbs with limited or no control. And ive worked a lot with systems which try to detect your movement intentions to generate artificial movements (neuro-prosthetics). Whilst some products are doing well (exo-hand) we are still technologically a long way from making a controllable system like Doc Ock or Callister.

I understand the pain you go through but hope that you can find a solution through conventional, or unconventional ways first. However when the pain becomes so chronic that it affects daily life, sleeping, and your whole charactor then tenticles or paddles could be a great solution

[Dee Tal]

It is manageable right now and I haven't gotten a diagnosis from a doctor on it yet so I'm not exactly sure what it is. Considering I have other joint issues (costochondritis) I'm not surprised in the slightest. Regarding losing limbs, can I admit that I've always found the idea a little bit fascinating?

[roamingmer]

Look for a product called condrosolf or condrosulph or similar. I had chronic chest pain (costo...) for about 6 months and these helped. Dont know why. I also changed diet and this had a good influence on many things (no milk protien, virtually no yeast products, much more fruit n veg, much less red meat). But everyone is different.

But be careful what you wish for: the real world is not quite as realistic as our fantasy worlds.

[Mermaid Narina]

That would be AMAZINGLY cool!!!! Although i dont think it would be worth giving up fingers! How would you type on mernetwork? :P

[Dee Tal]

I will look for that medicine. I'm always on the look out for anything that might help. I am truly aware of the implications of missing a limb and would accept it, even with the negative aspects.

Regarding typing, I could actually do alright using two simple sticks that could be affixed into the end of the tentacles.