Ellen DeGeneres has always been known for her humor, honesty, and the ease with which she turns life\u2019s awkward moments into laughter. But when she opened up about her experience with COVID-19, the story she told wasn\u2019t funny\u2014it was raw, unexpected, and, as she put it, \u201cincredibly painful.\u201d What caught her off guard most wasn\u2019t the fever, fatigue, or loss of taste that dominated headlines\u2014it was something far less discussed: excruciating back pain.<\/p>\n
In December 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Ellen announced that she had contracted COVID despite taking every precaution possible. She quarantined, followed medical advice, and expected to feel miserable for a while, just like everyone else who\u2019d gone through it. But what she didn\u2019t expect was that her back would feel like it was being \u201cpulled apart from the inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they don\u2019t tell you,\u201d she later explained, \u201cis that you\u2019ll have severe back pain. I had no idea that was a symptom until I talked to a few other people who went through the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
At first, she thought it might be something else\u2014a pulled muscle, maybe stress. But the pain only grew worse, radiating across her shoulders and lower spine, leaving her barely able to sleep. For someone used to dancing down the aisles of her studio audience and keeping the energy high, the immobility was shocking<\/p>\n
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Ellen\u2019s revelation resonated deeply because it shed light on something rarely discussed: the less obvious and often misunderstood side effects of COVID-19. Her openness made people who had suffered similar symptoms feel seen and validated. Many took to social media to share that they, too, had experienced severe muscle or back pain while battling the virus, yet had dismissed it as unrelated.<\/p>\n
Doctors were quick to explain what Ellen and so many others were feeling. According to medical experts, musculoskeletal pain\u2014including intense back pain\u2014can stem from the body\u2019s inflammatory response to the virus. COVID doesn\u2019t only attack the respiratory system; it can trigger widespread inflammation, including in muscles, joints, and nerves. In some cases, the immune system\u2019s overreaction can create what feels like a deep, unrelenting ache, lasting for weeks even after other symptoms fade.<\/p>\n
For Ellen, the pain wasn\u2019t just physical\u2014it was emotional too. She was forced to slow down for the first time in years, isolated from her team, her fans, and her routine. Known for her relentless work ethic and upbeat spirit, she described those days as some of the hardest of her career. \u201cYou think you\u2019ll just ride it out,\u201d she said, \u201cbut the exhaustion hits you in ways you can\u2019t explain. You feel helpless<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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