Most people mean well. That sentence explains a remarkable amount of nonsense.
Amputees hear questions that apparently escape people’s mouths before their brains have had time to review them. “What happened to you?” “Does it hurt?” “Can you take it off?” “Can I touch it?” “Do you sleep with it?” “Can you drive?” “Is that thing expensive?” “Did they let you keep the leg?”
Yes, people actually ask things like this.
Children get a partial exemption because children are naturally curious and have not learned the elaborate social dance adults perform around disability. Adults should know better.
You get to decide what you answer. That is important. Your medical history is not public property simply because part of it is visible.
You can explain. You can joke. You can redirect. You can say, “I’d rather not discuss it.” You can completely ignore the question.
Different situations deserve different responses. Sometimes answering helps normalize disability. Sometimes you are tired and simply want to buy groceries. Both are legitimate.
You are not the unpaid public relations department for amputation. You can be open when you choose and private when you choose. The choice belongs to you.