My secret battle with Parkinson’s
ROCKER Ozzy Osbourne yesterday revealed he has Parkinson’s disease, having kept the condition secret for almost a year.
The 71-year-old told how he can no longer hide his health struggles and that he is on a “whole host” of medication after being diagnosed with the disorder last February.
The Black Sabbath singer was joined by wife Sharon for an emotional interview on Good Morning America yesterday, where he discussed the challenges he now faces.
Birmingham-born Ozzy said: “I’m not good at secrets, I cannot walk around with it anymore. I feel better now owning up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson’s.”
The star said his ordeal began when he suffered a fall last year and had to undergo surgery, leading to the “worst” year of his life.
He said: “When I had the fall, it was pitch black. I went to the bathroom, and I fell.
Struggles
“Sharon got me an ambulance. After that, it was all downhill.”
He said he’s been recovering for almost a year, adding: “Worst, longest, most painful, miserable year of my life.”
There has been speculation about the musician’s health since he postponed concert dates last year. According to GMA host Robin Roberts, Ozzy wanted to go public with his struggles after recent headlines suggesting he was in failing health. The rocker added: “It’s been terribly challenging for us all. “I did my last show on New Year’s Eve at The Forum,” referring to a 2018 show in Los Angeles.
“I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves. I found out that I have a mild form of…,” he said, before looking to Sharon to finish his sentence, who said her husband had stage two Parkinson’s.
X Factor star Sharon said: “There are so many different types of
Parkinson’s. It’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.”
Ozzy continued: “A year ago, I was in a terrible state. I’m on a host of medication, mainly for the surgery.
“I’ve got numbness down this arm, and my legs are going cold. I don’t know if it’s the Parkinson’s or what. That’s the problem.”
The couple revealed they have exhausted medical options in the US and will travel to Switzerland in April to seek advice from a professor who specialises in the condition.The singer rose to fame in the 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath, becoming known as The Prince of Darkness and shocking fans with his wild onstage antics.
Drug and alcohol abuse got him fired from the band in 1979, seeing him forge a successful solo career and releasing nearly a dozen albums.
He has reunited with Black Sabbath frequently since.
Ozzy and Sharon married in 1982, going on to have three children, two of whom, Kelly and Jack, appeared with their parents on the hit MTV reality show,The Osbournes.