Photo Credit: Kevin Burkett / CC by 2.0
Ozzy Osbourne has Parkinson’s disease. The Black Sabbath star received his diagnosis after a fall last year.
Osbourne spoke about his diagnosis on Good Morning America, describing his condition as a ‘mild form’ of the disease. A fall last February helped pin down the diagnosis, though he still suffers complications from the accident. He told hosts that sometimes he is unable to tell if his numbness symptoms are from Parkinson’s or a result of the fall.
His wife Sharon said, “It’s not a death sentence, but it affects certain nerves in your body. You have a good day; you have a good day, then a really bad day.”
Ozzy admits dealing with the condition has been a new challenge for him. He performed his last show on New Year’s Eve last year before suffering a fall in February. The fall resulted in Osbourne needing surgery on his neck, which he says, “screwed all my nerves.”
Ozzy is now on medication for Parkinson’s and his nerve pain. Meanwhile, speculation about Ozzy’s health has been rampant online since the fall. Fans have also noticed Ozzy’s hand tremors during interviews and performances.
Ozzy says his son and daughter were the first to notice something wasn’t right. But he added that he’s grateful for the fans that have stuck beside him. “They’re my air, you know,” the singer said. “I feel better. I’ve owned up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson’s. And I hope they hang on, and they’re there for me because I need them.”
Someone with Parkinson’s can experience a wide variety of symptoms. The three obvious symptoms include hand tremors, slow movement, and stiff muscles. They may also experience problems with balance and a loss of smell and memory problems.
Ozzy says his health is improving every day. “I’m a lot better now than I was last February. I was in a shocking state,” he admitted to hosts. He’s due to hit the road again when his US tour starts in Atlanta. Last year he canceled all UK appearances because of his health.