‘Incredibly painful,’ says Ellen DeGeneres. ‘I had no idea that was a symptom.’

As Ellen DeGeneres wraps up her long-running chat show after an impressive 19 seasons, fans are reminiscing about her illustrious career and some challenging moments along the way.

Recently, Ellen, now 64, opened up about an unexpected ordeal—experiencing “excruciating” back pain after catching COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic.

The beloved host decided to take a break from the spotlight, especially amid allegations that her workplace environment was less than ideal. Instead, she focused her energy on one of her passions: animal conservation.

Ellen has proudly supported the establishment of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda.

However, during her time away, Ellen faced a new challenge when she was diagnosed with COVID. Turning to social media, she shared her shock at discovering back pain as one of the symptoms she experienced.

When Ellen first caught the virus in December 2020, she assured everyone that she was adhering to “proper precautions.” A week later, she provided an insightful health update, claiming she was “100%” better while revealing something about COVID not widely known.

“I feel fantastic,” Ellen expressed. “What people don’t tell you is that you will have severe back pain. I had no idea until I discussed it with others who had similar experiences.” This revelation notably surprised Ellen and her followers alike.

Back in 2020, as COVID initially spread, knowledge about its symptoms was still developing. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) wasn’t listing back pain as a symptom at first, although they did include “muscle or bodily aches.”

Others experiencing early symptoms of COVID reported fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, loss of taste or smell, and more.

With time, the world learned the various ways COVID can manifest in individuals. The NHS has shed light on why many people have reported back pain during illness.

They point out that “many patients will have had some aches and pains before falling sick with COVID.” Such discomforts could be exacerbated or re-emerge once illness strikes, given that physical activity tends to decrease during times of sickness, adversely affecting our joints and muscles.

This decrease in mobility was particularly pronounced when the pandemic incited a worldwide shift to working from home. People, whether working remotely or confined by social restrictions, ended up spending more time sitting, leading to more frequent reports of back and shoulder pain.

Evidence from a study in Malta, comprising 388 individuals, revealed that before COVID, 30% reported having chronic back pain. This number rose to 49% post-pandemic onset, with many claiming they hadn’t experienced back pain before COVID became widespread.

Back pain, however, isn’t necessarily indicative of COVID. It can be caused by a myriad of other health issues. If accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, or fever, it may point towards other illnesses like the seasonal flu. Individuals suffering from pneumonia might also report back pain due to inflammation linked to the condition.

It is vital to understand the broad spectrum of COVID symptoms and address health concerns with care. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!