As Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show concluded after 19 seasons, many fans have reflected on the highs and lows of her career. Recently, the 64-year-old TV host opened up about an unexpected health challenge: “excruciating” back pain after contracting COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic.

Following accusations of a toxic workplace environment on her show, DeGeneres chose to step away from the spotlight, focusing on her passion for animal conservation. One of her most significant projects has been the completion of The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda. Despite stepping back from public life, Ellen was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, and she took to social media to update her followers on her health, revealing her surprise at experiencing severe back pain as a symptom.

DeGeneres, who contracted the virus in December 2020, assured her fans that she had followed all necessary precautions at the time. A week after her diagnosis, she shared that she was feeling “100%” better but noted that the back pain had been an unexpected symptom that medical professionals hadn’t highlighted early on. “What they don’t tell you is that you might experience severe back pain,” she said, acknowledging she had learned of this after speaking with others who had the same experience.

At the onset of the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) did not list back pain as a common symptom of COVID-19, though “muscle or body aches” were noted. Classic COVID-19 symptoms included fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell, among others. Over time, however, more cases of joint and muscle pain—including back pain—were reported.

According to the NHS, pre-existing aches and pains can worsen with COVID-19, especially when movement is restricted during illness. “Illness may have resurfaced or worsened these difficulties,” the NHS website notes, as physical activity is crucial for maintaining healthy joints and muscles.

COVID-19 also brought significant lifestyle changes, such as an increase in remote work and more time spent indoors. Many people became less physically active, which contributed to a rise in back and shoulder pain. A study in Malta revealed that before the pandemic, 30% of participants reported chronic back pain. This number jumped to 49% after COVID-19 began, with many individuals experiencing back pain for the first time.

It’s important to remember that back pain doesn’t automatically signal a COVID-19 infection. Various factors, including flu or pneumonia, can cause back pain. When accompanied by congestion, coughing, or fever, muscle aches could point to other common illnesses. Additionally, back pain can present with symptoms such as a shooting or stabbing sensation, pain radiating down the legs, or a persistent dull ache.

While Ellen DeGeneres’ back pain was an unexpected part of her COVID-19 experience, her openness about it sheds light on how the virus can affect people in different ways, particularly as understanding of the illness continues to evolve.