As Ellen DeGeneres closed the chapter on her popular talk show after 19 seasons, fans have been reflecting on her remarkable career. Recently, Ellen, now 64, revealed an unexpected detail about her battle with COVID-19: she experienced “excruciating” back pain, a symptom not widely recognized at the time.
A Surprising COVID-19 Symptom
When Ellen contracted COVID-19 in December 2020, she followed every safety protocol. After about a week, she felt “100%” better, yet noticed something unexpected—intense back pain. She spoke about this on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on April 20, 2021, saying, “I feel fantastic now, but what they don’t tell you is that you’ll have severe back pain.” At the time, back pain wasn’t well-documented as a symptom, adding to Ellen’s surprise.
COVID-19 Symptom Research Was Limited Early On
Ellen’s experience happened during the early days of the pandemic, when COVID-19 symptoms were still under study. While the CDC listed general muscle aches as a symptom, it had not highlighted back pain specifically. However, as COVID-19 spread, reports of back pain, along with other joint discomforts, became more common, particularly as many people were restricted to their homes.
Remote Work and Rising Back Pain
The pandemic’s shift to remote work also led to an increase in reported back pain cases. As people spent more time sitting in makeshift home offices and less time moving around, the discomfort increased. For instance, a study in Malta, involving 388 participants, revealed that back pain rates rose from 30% before the pandemic to 49% after the lockdowns began.
Understanding the Causes of Back Pain
It’s essential to recognize that back pain isn’t unique to COVID-19. Other illnesses, like the flu and pneumonia, can also trigger discomfort. Back pain symptoms vary widely and might include sharp, radiating pain, a tingling sensation, or a dull ache, often caused by a variety of health factors.
In the wake of her health challenges and the end of her show, Ellen has turned her focus to a cause close to her heart: animal conservation. She recently completed the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda, underscoring her commitment to protecting wildlife.
