Medically reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people all over the world, but those with medical conditions have found themselves disproportionately affected.
For starters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source points out that people with underlying medical conditions are at an increased risk of severe illness and complications if they contract the coronavirus.
Plus, a June CDC report Trusted Source found that people with underlying conditions who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were 6 times more likely to be hospitalized and 12 times more likely to die from the disease than those without reported underlying conditions.
As a result, anyone living with a health condition or disability has been forced to exercise extreme caution when it comes to COVID-19.
Healthcare access has also become more of an issue for many people during the pandemic, with so-called “nonurgent” appointments, surgeries, and treatments reportedly being delayed, with medical resources instead being diverted to handle COVID-19 cases.
The impact of missing appointments or having treatments postponed means that some people aren’t getting the support and care they might need.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. As a person with multiple sclerosis (MS), my day-to-day life has changed in unexpected ways in 2020.
Here’s how the pandemic has changed how I manage my MS, and what I’ve changed as a result.
Coping with treatment changes
Since being diagnosed with MS in 2014, I’ve been treated with the disease-modifying drug natalizumab, which is administered every 4 weeks via an IV infusion.
When first prescribed the drug, my MS was classed as “highly active,” but since starting treatment, I haven’t had any relapses and my condition hasn’t significantly worsened.
The fact that my medicine has effectively halted the progression of my MS is something I’m hugely grateful for.
When COVID-19 started to spread, hospitals were forced to divert their resources, and as a result, my treatment was delayed from every 4 weeks to every 8 weeks.
While this is deemed safe from a medical standpoint, my MS symptoms have worsened with the extended interval dosing. I’ve experienced more pain, muscle spasms in my legs, and mobility issues — none of which posed a significant issue for me prior to these changes.
Even though these symptoms are likely temporary, managing them has been a huge adjustment.