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cripplecharacters · 8 months ago

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Where to Start Your Research When Writing a Disabled Character

[large text: Where to Start Your Research When Writing a Disabled Character]

So you have decided that you want to make a disabled character! Awesome. But what's next? What information should you decide on at the early phrase of making the character?

This post will only talk about the disability part of the character creation process. Obviously, a disabled character needs a personality, interests, and backstory as every other one. But by including their disability early in the process, you can actually get it to have a deeper effect on the character - disability shouldn't be their whole life, but it should impact it. That's what disabilities do.

If you don't know what disability you would want to give them in the first place;

[large text: If you don't know what disability you would want to give them in the first place;]

Start broad. Is it sensory, mobility related, cognitive, developmental, autoimmune, neurodegenerative; maybe multiple of these, or maybe something else completely? Pick one and see what disabilities it encompasses; see if anything works for your character. Or...

If you have a specific symptom or aid in mind, see what could cause them. Don't assume or guess; not every wheelchair user is vaguely paralyzed below the waist with no other symptoms, not everyone with extensive scarring got it via physical trauma. Or...

Consider which disabilities are common in real life. Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, stroke, cataracts, diabetes, intellectual disability, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, thyroid disorders, autism, dwarfism, arthritis, cancers, brain damage, just to name a few.

Decide what specific type of condition they will have. If you're thinking about them having albinism, will it be ocular, oculocutaneous, or one of the rare syndrome-types? If you want to give them spinal muscular atrophy, which of the many possible onsets will they have? If they have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which one out of the 13 different types do they have? Is their amputation below, or above the knee (it's a major difference)? Not all conditions will have subtypes, but it's worth looking into to not be surprised later. This will help you with further research.

If you're really struggling with figuring out what exact disability would make sense for your character, you can send an ask. Just make sure that you have tried the above and put actual specifics in your ask to give us something to work with. You can also check out our "disabled character ideas" tag.

Here are some ideas for a character using crutches.

Here are some ideas for a character with a facial difference (obligatory link: what is a facial difference?).

If you already know what disability your character is going to have;

[large text: If you already know what disability your character is going to have;]

Start by reading about the onset and cause of the condition. It could be acquired, congenital, progressive, potentially multiple of these. They could be caused by an illness, trauma, or something else entirely. Is your character a congenital amputee, or is it acquired? If acquired - how recently? Has it been a week, or 10 years? What caused them to become disabled - did they have meningitis, or was it an accident? Again, check what your options are - there are going to be more diverse than you expect.

Read about the symptoms. Do not assume or guess what they are. You will almost definitely discover something new. Example: a lot of people making a character with albinism don't realize that it has other symptoms than just lack of melanin, like nystagmus, visual impairment, and photophobia. Decide what your character experiences, to what degree, how frequently, and what do they do (or don't do) to deal with it.

Don't give your character only the most "acceptable" symptoms of their disability and ignore everything else. Example: many writers will omit the topic of incontinence in their para- and tetraplegic characters, even though it's extremely common. Don't shy away from aspects of disability that aren't romanticized.

Don't just... make them abled "because magic". If they're Deaf, don't give them some ability that will make them into an essentially hearing person. Don't give your blind character some "cheat" so that they can see, give them a cane. Don't give an amputee prosthetics that work better than meat limbs. To have a disabled character you need to have a character that's actually disabled. There's no way around it.

Think about complications your character could experience within the story. If your character wears their prosthetic a lot, they might start to experience skin breakdown or pain. Someone who uses a wheelchair a lot has a risk of pressure sores. Glowing and Flickering Fantasy Item might cause problems for someone photophobic or photosensitive. What do they do when that happens, or how do they prevent that from happening?

Look out for comorbidities. It's rare for disabled people to only have one medical condition and nothing else. Disabilities like to show up in pairs. Or dozens.

If relevant, consider mobility aids, assistive devices, and disability aids. Wheelchairs, canes, rollators, braces, AAC, walkers, nasal cannulas, crutches, white canes, feeding tubes, braillers, ostomy bags, insulin pumps, service dogs, trach tubes, hearing aids, orthoses, splints... the list is basically endless, and there's a lot of everyday things that might count as a disability aid as well - even just a hat could be one for someone whose disability requires them to stay out of the sun. Make sure that it's actually based on symptoms, not just your assumptions - most blind people don't wear sunglasses, not all people with SCI use a wheelchair, upper limb prosthetics aren't nearly as useful as you think. Decide which ones your character could have, how often they would use them, and if they switch between different aids.

Basically all of the above aids will have subtypes or variants. There is a lot of options. Does your character use an active manual wheelchair, a powerchair, or a generic hospital wheelchair? Are they using high-, or low-tech AAC? What would be available to them? Does it change over the course of their story, or their life in general?

If relevant, think about what treatment your character might receive. Do they need medication? Physical therapy? Occupational therapy? Orientation and mobility training? Speech therapy? Do they have access to it, and why or why not?

What is your character's support system? Do they have a carer; if yes, then what do they help your character with and what kind of relationship do they have? Is your character happy about it or not at all?

How did their life change after becoming disabled? If your character goes from being an extreme athlete to suddenly being a full-time wheelchair user, it will have an effect - are they going to stop doing sports at all, are they going to just do extreme wheelchair sports now, or are they going to try out wheelchair table tennis instead? Do they know and respect their new limitations? Did they have to get a different job or had to make their house accessible? Do they have support in this transition, or are they on their own - do they wish they had that support?

What about *other* characters? Your character isn't going to be the only disabled person in existence. Do they know other disabled people? Do they have a community? If your character manages their disability with something that's only available to them, what about all the other people with the same disability?

What is the society that your character lives in like? Is the architecture accessible? How do they treat disabled people? Are abled characters knowledgeable about disabilities? How many people speak the local sign language(s)? Are accessible bathrooms common, or does your character have to go home every few hours? Is there access to prosthetists and ocularists, or what do they do when their prosthetic leg or eye requires the routine check-up?

Know the tropes. If a burn survivor character is an evil mask-wearer, if a powerchair user is a constantly rude and ungrateful to everyone villain, if an amputee is a genius mechanic who fixes their own prosthetics, you have A Trope. Not all tropes are made equal; some are actively harmful to real people, while others are just annoying or boring by the nature of having been done to death. During the character creation process, research what tropes might apply and just try to trace your logic. Does your blind character see the future because it's a common superpower in their world, or are you doing the ancient "Blind Seer" trope?

Remember, that not all of the above questions will come up in your writing, but to know which ones won't you need to know the answers to them first. Even if you don't decide to explicitly name your character's condition, you will be aware of what they might function like. You will be able to add more depth to your character if you decide that they have T6 spina bifida, rather than if you made them into an ambiguous wheelchair user with ambiguous symptoms and ambiguous needs. Embrace research as part of your process and your characters will be better representation, sure, but they will also make more sense and seem more like actual people; same with the world that they are a part of.

This post exists to help you establish the basics of your character's disability so that you can do research on your own and answer some of the most common ("what are symptoms of x?") questions by yourself. If you have these things already established, it will also be easier for us to answer any possible questions you might have - e.g. "what would a character with complete high-level paraplegia do in a world where the modern kind of wheelchair has not been invented yet?" is more concise than just "how do I write a character with paralysis?" - I think it's more helpful for askers as well; a vague answer won't be of much help.

I hope that this post is helpful,

mod Sasza

#mod sasza #writing reference #writing advice #writing resources #writeblr #writing disabled characters #writing resource #long post #writing tips #writing guide

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pebblegalaxy · 2 years ago

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Comprehensive Overview of Diabetes Neuropathy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Diabetes neuropathy is a serious complication that affects many people with diabetes. It is a type of nerve damage that is caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. Over time, this can lead to nerve damage, which can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of diabetes neuropathy, including its causes,…

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#diabetes neuropathy #diagnosis #high blood sugar #nerve damage #prevention #symptoms #treatment

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kingcunny · 1 month ago

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Tbh i always tought Vis had some type of Diabetes type 2, but because Westeros is a medieval society thet didn't had our confiable metformin and insuline 😔👌

i think that is what hes supposed to have! diabetes is kinda the stereotypical ‘fat king disease’ and it would not be diagnosable or treatable in that time.

also supported by the fact that diabetes can cause heart and lung issues, viserys complaining if chest pain and shortness of breath.

also the fact that his illness was adapted into leprosy for the show. i know diabetes=leprosy SOUNDS crazy but hear me out. over time high blood sugar can damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to neuropathy (lack of feeling) and poor bloodflow in the extremities. people with diabetes also often have trouble healing wounds. these things combined leads to the phenomenon of the ‘diabetic foot’. diabetics getting injuries on their feet that they cant feel, that wont heal on their own. if untreated the wounds can fester and ulcer. this is why you sometimes hear about diabetics getting their feet or legs amputated.

now what does leprosy do to the body? the bacteria attacks the nervous system (+respiratory system, skin and eyes). leading to neuropathy. it can cause lesions and rashes on the skin, that due to nerve damage may not be noticed by the patient (as well as any just, regular injuries) left untreated… again. opportunistic infections, wounds festering and necrotizing… leprosy doesnt cause your limbs to rot off but it can prime them for the infections that will.

until diabetes gets BAD its not a very visual disease, but once it does well… the physical symptoms look very similar to leprosys

#maegorsbignaturals #viserys i targaryen #asks

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sagescented · 3 months ago

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Getting stabbed is not pleasant. Getting continuously stabbed by a Glucose Monitor is even worse. I'm finding the entire experience of applying and wearing this thing both unpleasant and discomforting.

For bonus points, my first reading came in at a whopping 40 mg/dl. And absolutely nothing is quicker to remind you that you used to be Hypoglycemic in High School and that your body's apparently somehow developed superhuman coping mechanisms as an adult, than your initial reading being a 40. Lemme tell ya.

For those concerned: I do not actually have most of the symptoms of Diabetes other than the lethargy / fatigue (started after Covid R2), blurry vision (recent development), neuropathy (got better after we took me off Lyrica last year and doesn't occur much anymore), dry / itchy skin (lifelong chronic issue for me which's made worse by multiple medications I'm on), and craving for sweets (recently increased after I started drinking Soda again). I'm missing the vast majority of other symptoms. My GP's just being thorough because I'm so tired all the time, and it's not improving- and we're coming up on 3 months shy of the year mark now. Diabetes is an easy one for us to test for out the gate. If my blood sugar levels are too high more often than not, then it's a yes. If they're not, then the answer's no.

#I should NOT be functional right now #Personal #2024 #Health & Fitness #DexCom

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covid-safer-hotties · 1 month ago

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Also preserved on our archive

By Rhys Richmond

Our nerves help us sense, react to, and change our surroundings. Simply put, our nerves are our connection to the world. This connection is disrupted, however, when peripheral neuropathy strikes.

The peripheral nervous system starts when nerves leave the spinal cord and ends when the nerves reach our tissues. Peripheral neuropathy, defined as a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, interferes with this connection. This can manifest as tingling or numbness (often in the hands and feet) that spreads over time. The feeling can be akin to how a limb feels when it “goes to sleep.”

Research shows that around 2.4% of the population suffers from peripheral neuropathy, with that number rising to about 8% in older patients. Most recently, clinicians have also identified this condition in some patients who have had COVID-19. One study found that as many as 56% of COVID-19 patients reported symptoms of peripheral neuropathy post-infection.

What causes peripheral neuropathy? Neuropathies can have a slew of causes. Trauma, inflammation, diabetes, infections (viral or bacterial), certain medications, inherited conditions, poor nutrition, and hormone imbalances can be responsible. All of these factors can lead to toxicity and inflammation of the nerve and its coating, which in turn contributes to the physical breakdown of the cell and its ability to function. But no clear cause is found in nearly a quarter of the patients with this type of neuropathy.

Clinicians use further sub-classifications to describe the extent of the disease and how it manifests. For example, mono-neuropathies involve just one nerve, while polyneuropathies include many nerves.

Additionally, it’s crucial to know exactly what is going wrong with the nerve:

If the neuropathy is “demyelinating,” this means that the nerve has lost part of its myelin coating, a physiological “accelerator” of nerve signals that helps nerves talk very quickly to one another and to muscles. Damage to the cell body of the nerve can occur if it is compressed or cut off from metabolic necessities (including glucose, the molecule that our cells use for energy) due to impingement from, for example, an abnormal growth or tumor. Axonal damage, which affects the long stem of the nerve cell that lets it “talk” to other nerves, can happen due to similar metabolic toxicities or trauma. This is what scientists currently think happens, in large part, in other non-COVID viral models of peripheral neuropathy, such as HIV, hepatitis C, etc. Why would COVID-19 cause peripheral neuropathy? Lindsay McAlpine, MD, a neurologist and founder of the Yale NeuroCOVID Clinic, has conducted research on what is now known clinically as peripheral neuropathy after COVID-19. She notes that there are two main categories of neuropathy following COVID-19 infection. One is the “acute illness mediated type,” in which patients find themselves with sudden, severe neuropathy, generally around the same time as their active illness. The second is small fiber neuropathy, which results from damage to the thinnest, unmyelinated nerves in our body and often begins with burning pain in the feet. It typically arises somewhat later—around two to 12 weeks post-illness.

Peripheral neuropathy in COVID-19 patients has been reported in both axonal and demyelinating forms, according to the medical literature. Researchers suspect that COVID-19 associated neuropathy could be driven by several causes. One might be immune system dysfunction, in which the body attacks itself instead of, or in addition to, attacking viral particles. Or COVID-19 may have hemodynamic effects that interfere with how blood flows through the body’s blood vessels, damaging the nerves and leading to “ischemia” due to restricted blood/nutrient flow, known as critical illness neuropathy.

How do clinicians diagnose peripheral neuropathy? To diagnose peripheral neuropathy, your clinician will ask you questions about your symptoms—when did they start, for example, and how would you describe the pain? The questions that Dr. McAlpine asks her patients include: “Is the pain intermittent? Is it localized to a certain part of your body? Is it patchy? Does it radiate? Are you numb, itchy, and/or hypersensitive?” Hallmarks of peripheral neuropathies include not only pain, but also weakness and numbness. Your answers to these questions can help clinicians pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

As part of the diagnostic work-up, you’ll typically see a neurologist, who will perform a complete neurological exam with deep reflex checks—leveraging the same reflex hammer your primary care doctor may use on your knee at your yearly checkups. This helps clinicians tell if some of the nerve circuits that are not under your conscious control are functioning correctly. If something is abnormal here, it may point to another cause of your symptoms that is not related to small nerve fibers. For example, is it possible that Long COVID could be working in tandem with another cause to trigger symptoms?

The next step involves lab tests to rule out common causes of neuropathy, as well as conditions, such as vitamin B12 deficiency or an autoimmune disease, that could either lead to neuropathy on their own or co-occur with COVID-19 and worsen neuropathy symptoms.

Next, your clinician will likely order an electromyography test (EMG)/nerve conduction study, which can help determine whether your symptoms appear to be related to large nerve fiber demyelination, axonal damage, or radiculopathy (due to a damaged or pinched nerve, most often in the spine). This test measures the electrical output of nerves when stimulated and will be negative (“normal”) if your peripheral neuropathy is due to small fiber nerve damage.

If the diagnosis is still elusive, clinicians typically order additional tests, including punch biopsies (the removal of small pieces of skin that are sent to a specialized lab to be assessed for small fiber density) and/or a special bloodwork panel that can look for uncommon causes of sensory neuropathy, which results in a loss of sensation in various parts of the body.

How is peripheral neuropathy treated? Clinicians often rely on a mixed-methods approach, including physical therapy and rehabilitation. Dr. McAlpine stresses the importance of “optimizing the environment for nerve healing”—that is, controlling other diseases such as diabetes that could be worsening symptoms, while also treating symptoms that can interfere with a patient’s function and sleep with medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin®), pregabalin (Lyrica®), and duloxetine (Cymbalta®), that treat nerve pain.

B vitamins play a crucial role in neural function, so supplementation of vitamins B1 and B12 might help relieve symptoms and protect nerves from future damage if a deficiency is the underlying cause. Oversupplementation with B6 is known to cause nerve damage and neuropathy

If evidence of autoimmune damage of the large or small nerve fibers is discovered during testing, clinicians can start IVIg—intravenous immunoglobulin—to help calm inflammation of the nerves. However, treatment with this medication can be time-consuming and costly. Insurance may not cover the drug, depending on the coverage plan and stated indication.

Because patients must sometimes wait up to several months to see a neurologist, Dr. McAlpine notes that primary care physicians may be able to prescribe gabapentin or one of the other medications listed above for at-home use to help treat symptoms while patients wait for their neurology appointment.

If you’d like more details on Long COVID-related small fiber neuropathy, Dr. McAlpine (Twitter/X: twitter.com/lindsaymca) has recently published a series of small case studies on this topic.

Rhys Richmond is an MD candidate at Yale School of Medicine.

Takeaway from Lisa Sanders, MD: When I was a child, my sisters and I often debated which sense we could live without most easily. As I recall, it usually came down to either the sense of smell or touch. In our lives at that age, bad odors and the bangs and bruises of a normal active childhood were the most vivid and unpleasant of our sensory experiences. Of course as an adult, and a physician, I think differently. I wouldn’t give up any of them.

But for those with peripheral neuropathy, this essential perception can become burdensome. The constant burning or numbness or pins-and-needle sensations some of the patients we see suffer through can often be torturous. Moreover, peripheral neuropathy can be dangerous. It is the tiny nerves that populate our skin that alert us to injury or infection. They tell us about the world around us. And when those nerves give us bad information, the world becomes a much more hazardous place. And a much harder place to live in.

At this point, it’s essential to try to find the underlying cause of the neuropathy and treat that. In the US and Europe, long-standing diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. When diabetes is well controlled, the risk of developing this complication can be reduced. In Long COVID, we still don’t fully understand the cause. All we can do is help with the pain. The medications mentioned above can relieve some of the pain. Capsaisin, the component that gives hot peppers their heat, can sometimes help as well, as can ice. Dr. McAlpine’s work using intravenous gamma globulin to treat neuropathies caused by an immune system gone bad is intriguing. And it may suggest a possible long-term treatment. At this point, it’s only an interesting idea; we can’t know for certain until more research is done.

Studies mentioned:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1122393/ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9538868/ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8853404/

#mask up #covid #pandemic #long covid #covid conscious #wear a mask #public health #covid 19 #wear a respirator #still coviding #coronavirus #sars cov 2 #covid is airborne #covid is not over

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wellness-world00 · 2 months ago

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Diabetes and Nerve Damage: The Numbness and Tingling ⚡

Understanding Diabetic Neuropathy

Ever experienced a pins-and-needles sensation or numbness in your hands or feet? If you have diabetes, you might be familiar with this uncomfortable feeling. This condition, known as diabetic neuropathy, occurs when high blood sugar levels damage nerves over time.

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Nerves?

When your blood sugar is consistently high, it can damage the small blood vessels that supply your nerves with the oxygen and nutrients they need to function properly. This damage can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

Numbness and tingling: This is often the first sign of diabetic neuropathy. You may feel like you're wearing gloves or socks that are too tight.Pain: Nerve damage can cause sharp, shooting pains or a burning sensation.Weakness: Muscles may become weak, making it difficult to perform daily tasks.Loss of balance and coordination: Damage to the nerves in your feet can increase your risk of falls.Digestive problems: Neuropathy can affect the nerves in your digestive system, leading to constipation, diarrhea, or difficulty swallowing.

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

There are different types of diabetic neuropathy, each affecting different parts of the body: Peripheral neuropathy: This is the most common type and affects the nerves in your hands and feet.Autonomic neuropathy: This affects the nerves that control your heart, blood pressure, and digestive system.Proximal neuropathy: This affects the nerves in your thighs, hips, and buttocks.Managing Diabetic NeuropathyWhile there is no cure for diabetic neuropathy, there are several ways to manage the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease:

Strict blood sugar control: Keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range is the most important thing you can do to protect your nerves.Pain management: Over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, and physical therapy can help relieve pain.Foot care: Regular foot exams and proper foot care can help prevent ulcers and infections.Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly.Living with Diabetic NeuropathyLiving with diabetic neuropathy can be challenging, but with the right management, you can still enjoy a good quality of life. It's important to work closely with your healthcare team to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Remember, you're not alone. There are many people living with diabetic neuropathy who have found ways to manage their condition and live fulfilling lives.

#diabetes #diabeticneuropathy #nervepain #neuropathy #bloodsugar #health #wellness #healthcare #footcare #painmanagement

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