For unprepared people, especially in cities, yes. (And MRIs may well be hard to get back). But, doing a little study and/or preparation now, sterile bandages, painkillers and limited anesthetics are quite doable. I'd say it's probably better (and certainly easier) to stock up now (it's not like bandages or gauze goes bad) but if you want to make a sterile bandage take a section of cloth, wash it, and then either have it under a hot iron for a few minutes or wrap it in foil and put it in an oven at lower heat for a bit.
Painkillers and anesthetics are a bit harder (especially general anesthetics), but asprin and nitrous oxide were developed in the mid-1800s (not to mention a wide range of less effective but still better than nothing alternatives depending on your local area), and medical xrays in the late 1800s. Is it possible that things get bad enough that we regress 100+ years? Maybe in certain areas but I don't see it happening universally and it's not hard to stock up now so that even if things do go horribly you and yours are set for a couple years. At my local grocery store, I can pick up gauze at 50 cents a yard, a box of bandaids for $8, and (depending on your preferred dosage and brand) painkillers at <$10 per hundred.
If those things are available, remember they rely on a complex system to get to your local store, will the quality remain the same? what use is buying a non sterile bandage?
Someone will likely steal your supplies too if they get into that short supply.
For unprepared people, especially in cities, yes. (And MRIs may well be hard to get back). But, doing a little study and/or preparation now, sterile bandages, painkillers and limited anesthetics are quite doable. I'd say it's probably better (and certainly easier) to stock up now (it's not like bandages or gauze goes bad) but if you want to make a sterile bandage take a section of cloth, wash it, and then either have it under a hot iron for a few minutes or wrap it in foil and put it in an oven at lower heat for a bit.
Painkillers and anesthetics are a bit harder (especially general anesthetics), but asprin and nitrous oxide were developed in the mid-1800s (not to mention a wide range of less effective but still better than nothing alternatives depending on your local area), and medical xrays in the late 1800s. Is it possible that things get bad enough that we regress 100+ years? Maybe in certain areas but I don't see it happening universally and it's not hard to stock up now so that even if things do go horribly you and yours are set for a couple years. At my local grocery store, I can pick up gauze at 50 cents a yard, a box of bandaids for $8, and (depending on your preferred dosage and brand) painkillers at <$10 per hundred.
If those things are available, remember they rely on a complex system to get to your local store, will the quality remain the same? what use is buying a non sterile bandage?
Someone will likely steal your supplies too if they get into that short supply.