Dealing With Injury or Illness During the Pandemic

Since the beginning of the year, a highly contagious and sometimes deadly virus known as the coronavirus hit the US infecting millions of Americans and taking the lives of hundreds of thousands. With all the widespread fear and panic the pandemic has caused, many people have become fearful of seeking medical treatment should they get sick or injured.

The idea of having to go to the doctor or emergency room where patients are currently being treated for the coronavirus seems risky. Therefore, they try to self-diagnose themselves, use over the counter medications or home remedies as treatments, and avoid seeking in-person treatment. Medical experts warn, however, that these practices can do more harm than good.

Should you become sick or injured during the pandemic, here is a more effective way to handle it.

Assess the Problem

The first step would be to assess the problem. If you’re sick, for instance, how do you feel? Have you experienced these symptoms before? Is it a side effect or complication of an existing condition? Do you have a fever, nausea, or diarrhea? If you’ve been injured, how bad is the injury? Is it a sore muscle or broken bones? Are you bleeding significantly? Have you lost movement in any part of your body? On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your level of pain?

Contact Your Doctor

After assessing your health problem, you should immediately contact your doctor. Most medical professionals now offer virtual visits for patients to reduce the need for an in-person visit. Schedule an appointment and talk to your doctor about what you’ve discovered. They will ask you questions similar to those discussed above to make a diagnosis. If it is believed the problem is serious, they will schedule an in-person appointment. However, if they believe the problem can be resolved with medication and rest, they may prescribe you something and provide care instructions.

Take Care of Yourself

If the problem wasn’t severe, you want to take care of yourself to prevent things from getting out of hand. Let’s say your doctor believes you have a 24-48 hour bug. They may tell you to take pain medication to break the fever, drink plenty of fluids, and get rest. On the other hand, if you have neck pain, they might recommend that you try stretching, massages, hot/cold therapy, and/or pain medication to reduce the pain. Be sure that you’re following these orders accurately and report back to your doctor if things get worse.

Seek Medical Attention

If your sickness or injury is severe or doesn’t get any better after following the doctor’s orders, you need to seek medical attention. Though it may seem as if healthcare facilities are a breeding ground for the coronavirus, they have taken extra precautions to ensure their patients are safe. This includes testing and screening at intake, personal protective equipment for patients and staff, separate waiting areas, and regular cleaning and sanitation schedules.

If your doctor’s office is closed, then you need to get to a hospital or a place like this urgent care in Lafayette, LA (or near where you live). Trying to wait it out can lead to worsening health. Simply make sure that you protect yourself before, during, and after your visit to reduce contracting the coronavirus. This can be done by wearing a face mask, sitting in the right waiting area, washing your hands after your visit, and cleaning your clothes when you return home.

Getting sick or injured in the middle of a pandemic can be quite daunting. You’re in need of medical assistance, but your fear of contracting the coronavirus prevents you from seeking help. Though it can be difficult to get past those anxieties, ignoring the problem, trying to play doctor, or experimenting with medications and home remedies may make things worse. Simply follow the steps above to handle such health problems while remaining safe during the pandemic.