Ellen DeGeneres, who ended her talk show after 19 seasons, has been stepping back from the public spotlight, especially after allegations of a toxic workplace. She has shifted her focus toward animal conservation, including the opening of The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda. In late 2020, DeGeneres tested positive for COVID-19, and although she followed all recommended precautions, she later shared surprising symptoms on social media. A week after her diagnosis, she said she felt “100%,” but revealed one symptom that “no one tells you about”: severe back pain. She mentioned that she only discovered it was common after speaking to others who experienced the same thing.

At the time Ellen was infected, COVID research was still limited. Early CDC guidelines didn’t list back pain as a symptom, although they did include general muscle aches. Many patients later reported back and shoulder pain connected either to the virus itself or to reduced movement during illness and long periods spent sitting at home during lockdowns. The NHS has explained that COVID may worsen pre-existing aches or cause new discomfort because being ill reduces physical activity, leading to stiffness and muscle weakness. This can make it difficult to climb stairs, lift objects, or raise one’s arms.

Studies support this trend: a survey in Malta found that back pain increased significantly after the pandemic began, with many people experiencing it for the first time. Still, doctors emphasize that back pain alone does not mean someone has COVID, since it can also be caused by flu, pneumonia, poor posture, or muscular strain. Common signs that back pain may be linked to a medical issue include shooting or burning pain, numbness, pain radiating down the leg, muscle stiffness, or a persistent dull ache.