By Roger Chriss, PNN Columnist

The coronavirus pandemic is now a national emergency. The CDC has a web page specifically for high risk populations, which is older people and those with chronic health conditions. The key advice is to scrub up, stock up, and hole up.

But stocking up on medication (particularly opioids), scrubbing up hands in splints, and holing up safely are going to be hard for people with chronic illness. Here are some useful suggestions.

Stocking Up on Meds

There are ways to stock up on prescription medications and some states are helping. The Washington State Department of Health has asked all insurance companies to allow people to get a one-time refill of their prescription medications before the end of the waiting period between refills.

However, the agency’s website notes that: “Your insurance company may have limitations on refills for certain drugs like opioids.”  

NPR reports that pharmacies may also be able to help, so a talk with your pharmacist may be worthwhile.

Scrubbing Up With Physical Limitations

Scrubbing up is essential, of course, but the need to wear braces and splints makes this difficult for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, arthritis and other health conditions. Cleaning wrist braces is a challenge. One way to reduce the need for cleaning is to minimize use when out, or to use braces that are more easily cleaned.

Another trick is to eschew braces when out and rely on snug winter gloves, which can be easily washed once home. Late winter is often a good time to stock up on gloves because of end-of-season sales. And such gloves may be adequate for stabilization in people with less serious disease.

Of course, it is also important to keep your hands away from your face. People with mobility issues may be in frequent contact with what the CDC calls “high-touch surfaces in public places” (think railings and banisters) in order to maintain stability and walk safely. Hard-hit areas like Washington State are already encourage or require regular sanitizing of such surfaces, but extra caution is required.

Holing Up Safely

Holing up may be something people with chronic illness are well practiced at. But there are important differences because of the coronavirus.

In an article about elder care, STAT News suggests that seniors limit visits with people who may be sick and rely on digital communication instead.

Max Brooks explains why that’s important.

But to “hunker in a bunker” safely and sanely for weeks requires more. Hospitals and clinics in coronavirus hotspots are already limiting elective procedures and delaying routine care. Staying safe at home while holing up is key.

This means avoiding triggers that can cause exacerbation, as well as activities that impose undue risks. So no home improvement projects, experiments with new recipes or supplements, tests of new fitness activities, or major changes in daily routines.

Of course, things will go wrong. CNBC reports that 54% of Americans are not financially prepared to handle a contagious disease like coronavirus that may limit their ability to work for a few weeks. CNBC suggests phone consultations, telehealth, and avoiding ERs.

Some states are moving to improve access to health insurance in this critical period. Massachusetts and Washington State have both added a special enrollment period for their Affordable Care Act exchanges for people who need health insurance.

As public health authorities issue more general recommendations, people with chronic pain disorders will need to be mindful and take extra precautions on how to stay healthy and functional in the face of the coronavirus. Resources like the ones listed above may help fill in the gaps during this difficult time.

Roger Chriss lives with Ehlers Danlos syndrome and is a proud member of the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Roger is a technical consultant in Washington state, where he specializes in mathematics and research.