Ozzy Osbourne reveals he has Parkinson's disease: 'It's been terribly challenging for us all'
Ozzy Osbourne has Parkinson’s disease.
The rock star and reality star, 71, opened up about his ongoing health issues, revealing for the first time that he was diagnosed with the nervous system disorder last February.
"It's PRKN 2," explained his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne on Tuesday’s Good Morning America. "There's 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 said, "It's been terribly challenging for us all.”
Nicknamed the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy said he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, which has no cure, last year. That whole year was a rough one for the singer, who soared to fame in Black Sabbath, because he also suffered a fall at home which required surgery and led to him postponing his world tour. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation about his health — which Sharon often addresses on The Talk — but he says he’s been recovering, mostly in seclusion, taking a “host of medications,” including Parkinson's medication and pills for nerve pain.
"I got a numbness down this arm for the surgery, my legs keep going cold," Ozzy explained. "I don't know if that's the Parkinson's or what, you know, but that's? see, that's the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. I'd never heard of nerve pain, and it's a weird feeling."
Ozzy has long been the subject of health rumors, including while on MTV’s The Osbournes with his family, including Kelly and Jack Osbourne. He also once publicly denied having Parkinson's — long before his diagnosis.
As for his decision to speak out now, he said, "I'm no good with secrets. I cannot walk around with it anymore 'cause it's like I'm running out of excuses, you know?"
Sharon said they will be seeking medical help outside the U.S., explaining, "We've kind of reached a point here in this country where we can't go any further because we've got all the answers we can get here. So in April, we're going to a professional in Switzerland, [[where] he deals with getting [his] immune system at its peak."
Ozzy said he felt “lucky” to be able to afford to do that. But he made it clear that as rumors have swirled about him over the last year, he’s not on his death bed. “Far from it,” said the singer, who is creating new music amid his health woes and can’t wait to get back to work.
Jack and Kelly were the ones who first realized that their father seemed to be having a health issue, and his official diagnosis made the bond between them all tighter. (Ozzy and Sharon also have a daughter, Aimee.)
Jack, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, said he now relates to his dad more than ever.
"I understand when you have something you don't want to have,” Jack said.
Social media has been full of praise for the rock icon sharing his story, and messages urging him to stay strong. Here are some of those posts:
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