As many fans bid farewell to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” after its 19-season run, there’s been much discussion about Ellen DeGeneres’ career highlights and challenges. Recently, Ellen, now 64, shared a surprising revelation about a symptom she experienced after catching COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic: “excruciating” back pain.
Following accusations that her popular talk show had fostered a toxic work environment, Ellen chose to step back from the limelight. Instead, she turned her attention to her passion for animal conservation, successfully completing The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda.
In a recent health update on social media, Ellen disclosed that she was diagnosed with COVID-19. To her astonishment, she noted severe back pain as a symptom.
Though she adhered to “proper precautions,” Ellen contracted the virus in December 2020. Just a week later, she reported feeling “100%” healthy again but noted an unexpected symptom that medical experts “don’t tell you about.”
Ellen explained, “I feel fantastic. But what they don’t tell you is that you can have severe back pain. I didn’t know that was a symptom until I talked to a few other people.” Expressing her surprise, she asked, “Who would have thought? How so? I’m having back pain.”
Back in the early days of the pandemic when Ellen contracted COVID-19, there was limited information about symptoms. Initially, back pain wasn’t formally recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a symptom, though they did list “muscle or body aches.”
The early recognized symptoms included fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
Interestingly, the NHS later clarified the connection between illnesses, such as COVID-19, and the aggravation of joint and muscle issues. On their website, they’ve stated that many individuals had pre-existing body aches before contracting the virus, which might have worsened due to illness. This is often because staying physically active is crucial for joint and muscle health.
Inactivity, a byproduct of illness like COVID, leads to reduced movement, potentially causing stiffness and muscle weakness. Weak muscles can lead to challenges like trouble standing, climbing stairs, gripping items, or lifting your arms above your head. As the pandemic progressed, reports of back and shoulder pain became more frequent among those diagnosed with COVID-19.
The surge in remote working during the pandemic was another factor contributing to increased reports of back pain. People spent more time sitting at home due to restrictions on outdoor and social activities, reducing overall physical activity.
A study carried out in Malta involving 388 people revealed a significant increase in back pain reports. Before the pandemic, around 30% of participants experienced chronic back pain. After COVID-19’s onset, this number rose to 49%, with the majority having never experienced back pain before the pandemic.
It’s essential to note that not all back pain is linked to COVID-19. Numerous factors can lead to backaches. If you have accompanying symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or fever, muscle pain might indicate another illness, such as the flu, which is prevalent in winter months in the UK.
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Likewise, pneumonia can also lead to back issues due to inflammation and infection in the thoracic region. Common symptoms of back pain can include a shooting, burning, or stabbing sensation, pain radiating down the leg, a tingling sensation (pins and needles), and a persistent, dull ache. Continued discomfort might indicate a need for medical evaluation.
