With Ellen DeGeneres’ long-running chat show coming to an end after 19 seasons, many fans have looked back at the highs and lows of her career. Recently, the 64-year-old revealed that she had experienced “excruciating” back pain after contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic.
DeGeneres made the decision to step away from the spotlight following allegations that her show had a toxic work environment. She shifted her focus to her passion for animal conservation, completing the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda. However, during this time, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and shared an update on social media, mentioning how surprised she was to have back pain as one of the symptoms.
When she contracted the virus in December 2020, DeGeneres confirmed that she had taken all necessary precautions. A week later, she shared that she was feeling much better and was “100%” recovered, but she mentioned something surprising about her experience with the virus that hadn’t been widely discussed by medical professionals.
On an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on April 20, 2021, where DeGeneres appeared alongside guests Billie Joe Armstrong and musical acts Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley, she opened up about her experience. She stated, “I feel fantastic. What they don’t tell you is that you will have severe back pain. I had no idea it was a symptom until I spoke with a few other people.” DeGeneres expressed her surprise, wondering, “Who would have thought? I’m having back pain.”
Since she contracted COVID-19 early on, there was less research on symptoms at the time. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) did not initially list back pain as a symptom of COVID-19, although it did acknowledge “muscle or bodily aches” as a common issue. Early symptoms of COVID-19 included fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
The NHS later provided more insight into why people, including COVID-19 patients, might experience back pain and other joint or muscle-related issues. The NHS noted that many patients had pre-existing aches and pains, which could be aggravated by illness, especially since regular movement is beneficial for joint and muscle health. The lack of physical activity due to illness could lead to stiffness, weakness, and discomfort.
People suffering from muscle weakness may find it difficult to perform everyday tasks such as standing, climbing stairs, or even lifting their arms. As the pandemic spread globally, reports of back and shoulder pain became more common among those infected with COVID-19.
Another factor contributing to the rise in back pain during this time was the shift to working from home. Even those not required to work remotely were more sedentary due to social restrictions and a decrease in outdoor activities, leading to increased back pain.
A study conducted in Malta involving 388 participants found that 30% of individuals reported experiencing chronic back pain before the pandemic, while 49% reported back pain following COVID-19’s onset. Many of these people had never experienced back pain prior to the pandemic.
It’s important to remember that experiencing back pain doesn’t necessarily indicate a COVID-19 infection. Back pain can result from many causes, and if it is accompanied by symptoms like nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, or fever, the discomfort might be related to other illnesses, such as the flu, which tends to be more common during winter.
Additionally, individuals suffering from pneumonia might experience back pain due to inflammation and infection in the thoracic area. Common back pain symptoms may include shooting or stabbing sensations, pain radiating down the leg, a pins-and-needles feeling, inability to relax, or a constant dull ache.