5 Ways the Pandemic Made Living with Arthritis Easier

Lockdowns and restrictions due to the pandemic have been hard on everyone. It was especially tough to be separated from our friends and family for such extended periods. Personally, I struggled with a lot of anxiety with all the changes that came about.

A look at some pandemic-friendly practices

That said, several things came about from the pandemic that made life a little better, especially for someone with arthritis. Some changes improved my quality of life significantly! Moving forward, I hope these pandemic-friendly practices stick around in the future.

Working from home

Work from home changed my life in the most positive way. I love not having a commute, being able to wear comfortable clothes, and working in positions that are better for my joints. While work still takes a lot out of me, I have a little more energy than usual at the end of the day. Plus, my joints aren't as aggravated. All I can say is I hope the trend of remote work is here to stay!

Attending virtual events

While these are becoming less common as restrictions drop, I love having the option to attend events from the comfort of my home. It makes things easier for me when my joints aren't feeling great or struggling with fatigue. It's helped me cope with my FOMO and feel included, which has been great for my mental health.

I didn't catch any colds

I loved the extra emphasis on washing your hands and staying home if you were sick. As someone who uses arthritis medications that lower my immune system, I never felt so safe. I didn't get sick at all until recently; it was my first cold in over a year, just a cold, but I forgot how bad getting sick made me feel and complicated things. Holding off on my biologic injection until I was feeling well again made my arthritis unhappy, making it harder for me to feel better in general.

More efficient and affordable take-out options

This one is very specific, but I loved that restaurants stepped up their take-out. It's so efficient to pull up to the pickup location, text that you've arrived, and have your food brought out to you - something many places offered before.

I'm especially a big fan of the family meal deals that are more common now. Take out, while convenient and perfect on 'bleh' days, will add up quickly. Picking up a nice dinner at a reasonable price has been a lifesaver quite a few times.

Virtual appointments... to an extent

I have a love-hate relationship with online appointments. I like them because it's sometimes easier to get time with the doctor. They were great for short appointments when I didn't have to go all the way to the clinic for an appointment that would only take a few minutes. I also love doing video sessions with my therapist - it took the stress out of caring for my mental health.

But they could be frustrating. The doctor couldn't see the range of motion in most of my joints or the pitting in my toenails over the webcam because it was just too difficult. So while I still appreciate the option of virtual doctor's appointments, I'm glad that options for in-person appointments are back.

Making the world more accessible to people with chronic illnesses

While not every pandemic change was a welcome one, I think all the ones listed above were great. They created a lot of opportunities for people. Many of my friends with chronic illnesses and disabilities said that, for a time, it felt like the world became more accessible. And I hope all of these items are here for the long term!