In my one shot fantasy novel, I have my character being shot by a crossbow bolt, from a light crossbow. Now it pierces his leg, the bottom part. He has the bolt removed quickly, and the wpund cleaned with alcohol and salt. (its not infected) How long will you say that it will take him to recover? (back on his feet, and full recovery) Also, after the bolt is removed and he has slept, how much will it hurt for the first few days? (With the only anesthetics in that world being alcohol and Hash)
What healing methods are available in your setting? Being fantasy, healing magic or potions are possible factors.
No. None of that, low magic fantasy. Maybe some incantations to speed it up a little, but it's mostly stopping the bleeding, bandaging, and preventing infection via alcohol and the like (no antibiotics, obviously)
A clean wound that punctures a muscle but doesn't sever it, you'd be back on your feet right away. It would hurt a little, like a nasty bruise, for a few days.
If you want him on crutches you have to sever a muscle or tendon but that has other problems like needing a surgical repair. I suggest you add a nasty sprain to the arrow injury. Sprains stretch tendons, weakening them for a while but they heal on their own. A sprained knee, for example will make the knee unstable for a while.
