This Morning presenter Ben Shephard shared a candid, vulnerable video on his social media, outlining the secret surgeries and series of health scares he has faced over the last ten years.
The 51-year-old revealed he had been suffering with back issues and "serious injuries" for the last decade and was only feeling well enough to start intensely exercising again recently.
Sharing his news with his 600 thousand Instagram followers, the former Good Morning Britain host filmed himself sitting down in a chair and read out the results he had received from doctors regarding slipped discs and tears.
He began his clip by stating: "I think this is the first time I've talked in detail about what's been going on with my back."
Ben went on to outline the surgery he had on his back and the cortisone injections he was administered to deal with the pain and inflammation he was experiencing.
He said: "Ten years ago, my back had deteriorated to a point where it wasn’t just a gnawing ache. Essentially, my back was knackered."
Later in the video, the star added: "It became really serious, and he therefore operated on my back. I had some cortisone injected to try to reduce some of the nerve effects. It was quite a surreal moment. At that point, it’s the time you start to feel really old. It was quite a moment."
As he told his story, he revealed that he is finally in a place where he can push his body to harsher limits, although admitted he was listening to his aches and pains a lot more closely moving forward.
Staying fit at 50
Speaking candidly about ageing, the TV personality also added a note alongside his video and explained that he felt it was important to be open about taking care of yourself after you reach 50 and beyond.
He penned a caption to his followers that said: "I’ve never really gone into detail about my back before. Probably because I was still figuring it out myself!
© Ken McKay/ITV"This is the start of something a bit more open. Not just about staying fit in your 50s but about adapting, rebuilding and being honest about the setbacks along the way. If your body’s ever forced you to rethink how you train, I’d love to hear how you handled it?"
In the comments, Ben was praised for shedding light on the realities of injuries associated with ageing. One social media user wrote: "Absolutely love this message Ben!" while another added: "You are amazing, Shepster! Thank you for sharing this. I just love your energy and outlook. You never complain...just get on with it and you saying this is going to help others."
"I love that you are sharing this because there are so many people out there getting these conditions diagnosed on a daily basis. Now they know they are not alone and there is hope," a third follower left underneath the star's video.
© InstagramBen isn't the only one suffering with back issues, however. Physiotherapist and author Juanma Ortega - an expert in musculoskeletal health and non-surgical spinal injury recovery - explained: "Statistics show that approximately 80% of the population will suffer from back pain or serious spinal injuries during their lifetime. If the figure is that high, it suggests that, as a society, we're clearly doing something wrong when it comes to physical self-care.
"Playing sport is excellent, but it must be supported by at least three days of fundamental physical conditioning. This should focus on strength and muscular elasticity, specifically tailored to counteract any sedentary work postures and the physical demands of whichever active hobby they enjoy."
What does an osteopath think?
HELLO! asked Nadia Alibhai, a registered osteopath with over 15 years of experience, to weigh in on Ben's symptoms. She revealed the realities of what he had been dealing with during his years of agonising back pain.
She told us: "Many spinal conditions that I have seen develop gradually and are actually very common, particularly in the lower back. Lumbar disc degeneration simply means the cushioning discs between the bones of the spine begin to wear down over time, something that happens to most of us to some degree as we age.
"It can cause lower back pain, stiffness, and sometimes pain that spreads into the buttocks or thighs, although symptoms often come and go. If the disc impinges on the nerve or herniates, it can cause excruciating pain, and this is when many people often need surgery in the form of a discectomy (removal of disc) or laminectomy (removal of lamina, not full disc)."
The expert added: "Spondylolisthesis is where one vertebra slips slightly forward over the one below it. This can lead to lower back pain, tight hamstrings, and occasionally nerve irritation, causing pain, tingling, or numbness down the leg. If it's a minor slip, it can go unnoticed for many, but with time and if not looked after, it can cause the above symptoms too!
"For someone like Ben Shephard, it’s entirely possible these conditions went largely unnoticed for years. Many people manage them very effectively with osteopathy and physiotherapy, core strengthening, staying active, and pacing certain movements.
"Symptoms can fluctuate, so people often learn how to work around flare-ups and continue with very active careers without others being aware of the problem or sometimes ignoring it."
