'Worst year of my life': Ozzy Osbourne reveals shock diagnosis
Shock rocker Ozzy Osbourne, 71, has revealed his secret battle Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological condition.
The Black Sabbath star has a ‘mild form’ of Parkin 2, which is a form of Parkinson's disease, that was discovered after he suffered a fall at his home over a year ago.
“It was the worst, longest, most painful, miserable year of my life,” the ‘Prince of Darkness’ revealed in a joint interview on Good Morning America with his wife Sharon Osbourne, 67.
“It has been terribly challenging for us. I had to have surgery on my neck [after the fall] which screwed all my nerves. I found out that I have a mild form of...” he trailed off before his wife of almost three decades jumped in.
“It's Parkin 2 which is a form of Parkinson's,” Sharon finished off his sentence.
“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 the nerves in your body. It's like you'll have a good day, then a good day and then a really bad day,” she told GMA host Robin Roberts.
The father-of-six also admitted that he suffers from numbness and said he's not sure if it’s related to Parkinson's.
“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,” he added.
Overseas treatment
The couple is now looking to seek treatment for Ozzy in Switzerland after exhausting the medical options available in the United States where they call home.
“We're going to go wherever we can go to find answers,” Sharon said of their trip in April to seek advice from a Parkinson's specialist.
“We're lucky we can afford to do that,” Ozzy added.
“To hide something is hard - you never feel proper. You feel guilty. I'm no good with secrets. I cannot walk around with it anymore. It's like I'm running out of excuses. I feel better now that I have owned up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson’s” he said.
And the rock legend is keen to get back on the road despite the diagnosis.
“This is the longest he's ever been home. He really needs to get back out now,” Sharon revealed.
“I just can't wait to get well and get on the road again that's what's killing me. I need it you know - that's my drug. I ain't going anywhere yet,” Ozzy added.
As some of you may have heard, Ozzy was admitted to hospital following some complications from the flu. His doctors feel this is the best way to get him on a quicker road to recovery. Thanks to everyone for their concern and love.
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) February 6, 2019
In February 2019, Ozzy was rushed to an intensive care unit after being hospitalised with a severe case of flu.
A month earlier, he postponed his the UK and European leg of his ‘No More Tours 2’ world tour due to ill health.
Additional reporting by BANG Showbiz.
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