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

Ellen DeGeneres recently revealed her battle with COVID-19, highlighting an unexpected symptom: excruciating back pain. Despite taking precautions, she contracted the virus in December 2020. She shared her experience, saying, “What they don’t tell you is that you will have severe back pain. I had no notion that was a symptom until I spoke with a few other people.”

At the pandemic’s onset, the CDC didn’t list back pain as a COVID symptom, although muscle aches were mentioned. Back pain became increasingly reported as the virus spread globally, partly due to limited physical activity caused by lockdowns and remote work.

A study in Malta found that 49% of people experienced back pain following the pandemic’s emergence, compared to 30% before. While back pain can be a symptom of COVID-19, it doesn’t automatically imply infection. Many other factors can cause backaches, so it’s crucial to consider other symptoms and consult a healthcare professional if necessary.