‘INCREDIBLY PAINFUL,’ says Ellen DeGeneres. ‘I had no idea that was a symptom.’
Recently, Ellen DeGeneres recounted her encounter with COVID-19, shedding light on an unexpected symptom: severe back pain. Despite taking precautions, she contracted the infection in December 2020. “What they don’t tell you is that you will have severe back pain,” she shared, recounting her personal journey. This symptom didn’t register with me until I spoke with a few other individuals.
While muscular discomfort was acknowledged, back pain wasn’t initially listed as a COVID symptom by the CDC at the onset of the pandemic. As the virus proliferated globally, more individuals began reporting experiencing back pain, partly due to reduced physical activity resulting from lockdowns and remote work.
According to a study conducted in Malta, the prevalence of patients with back pain surged from 30% to 49% after the onset of the pandemic. Despite back discomfort being indicative of COVID-19, it’s not always the primary cause. Backaches can stem from various conditions, underscoring the importance of examining additional symptoms and, when necessary, seeking medical advice.
