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S'porean actress Kimberly Chia hospitalised after sharp back pain while brushing teeth
The 29-year-old is currently undergoing physiotherapy as part of her recovery journey.
July 23, 2025, 04:03 PM
Singaporean actress Kimberly Chia had an unexpected health scare recently.
In an Instagram post on Jul. 18, the 29-year-old revealed that she was hospitalised after a freak incident at home.
According to her, she had been experiencing “an achy back pain” for a while, but it was mild enough that she chose to ignore it.
That was until one morning, when she was getting ready for work.
The actress had a sudden gag reflex while brushing her teeth.
The involuntary jerk forward triggered a sharp pain in her back.
"It was a sharp pain that made me see stars. [I] blacked out but [was] still conscious," she wrote.
Hospitalised overnight
Chia immediately called out for her husband, who helped her lie down.
Unable to get up due to the pain, the couple decided to call for an ambulance.
Chia was taken to the hospital, where she underwent an X-ray scan.
“I was given some pretty heavy painkillers but my pain score didn’t drop. [I] couldn’t move, couldn’t sit up,” she shared.
As a result, she was hospitalised overnight for observation.
After her discharge, Chia shared in an interview with Shin Min Daily News that while she could walk, she still could not bend or make large movements.
“Turning my body has to be done slowly. I can’t drive either because stepping on the pedals affects my back.”
The actress is currently undergoing physiotherapy as part of her recovery journey.
While she did not elaborate on her condition, a cursory online search on sudden movements causing backaches revealed that spasms in the back could be related to strains.
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Top image via Kimberly Chia on Instagram
