More than 40 percent of the population suffers from some type of chronic pain, so it’s no surprise that some big names deal with pain. Today, we show you that you’re not alone in combating chronic pain. Here’s a look at five celebrities who are continually battling chronic pain.
1. George Clooney – The famous actor nearly called it a career back in 2005 after he suffered an extremely painful back injury while filming the movie Syriana. Clooney struck his head during a particularly action packed scene, and he suffered a torn dora – the area around the spine that holds in spinal fluid. Before several surgeries were able to correct the issue, Clooney told reporters that he thought about ending his acting career once and for all.
2. Jillian Michaels – Micheals, best known for her role as a trainer on The Biggest Loser, deals with endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on a regular basis. The conditions cause debilitating abdominal pain and can cause complications during pregnancy. Michaels eats healthy meals and exercises regularly to help keep her symptoms at bay, but she has decided to adopt in lieu of pursuing a painful and potentially dangerous pregnancy.
3. Montel Williams – Williams had been misdiagnosed as having chronic pain for 10 years before he was correctly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis back in 1999. The talk show host said he viewed the diagnosis as a “call to action,” and he went public with his diagnosis in an effort to raise public awareness as well as funding for a cure. He runs the Montel Williams Foundation, which raises money for MS research, and he noted that he exercises for 75 minutes a day to keep symptoms from flaring.
4. Sinead O’Connor – Mrs. O’Connor had to step away from her music career in 2003 to deal with her painful Fibromyalgia. She returned to her career two years later, noting “Fibromyalgia is not curable. But it’s manageable. You get to know your patterns and limits, so you can work and plan around it.”
5. Kathleen Turner – The two-time Golden Globe award winning actress has battled with rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years. The condition attacks the body’s soft tissue and joints. Just like the above celebrities, Turner said the diagnosis gave her a fresh perspective on life, saying “Suddenly all that stuff about having good looks and being sexy took secondary position to being able to walk without pain.” She now speaks out about the condition with hopes of raising awareness and finding a cure, and she earned a lifetime achievement award from the Massachusetts Arthritis Foundation for her efforts.
Related source: Prevention.com