6 Things To Know About George Clooney’s Spine Surgeries

George Clooney is one of the most likable actors in Hollywood. He is charming and has a great work ethic that heralded his success.

George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky. His father, Nick Clooney, is a former anchorman and television host. His mother, Nina Bruce, is a former beauty queen and city councilwoman.

George Clooney on Syriana, Suicide, and Surgeries

Filming Syriana

It’s easy to look at their lives as celebrities and assume that they live a charmed life. However, celebs are just like the rest of us – they face the same challenges and problems. One issue that many celebrities struggle with is chronic back pain.

George Clooney is a well-known actor who has been in the industry for decades. Yet, he still risks injury on set! In 2005 when George was only 44 years old and filming Syriana, he severely injured his spine attempting a stunt. 

Clooney suffered from excruciating pain for weeks, with the worst part being that the doctors could not identify the cause of the pain. He could not find temporary relief for the headaches with painkillers as he was afraid he’d become addicted to them. As a result, Clooney suffered through the pain until the doctors identified the cause.

Contemplating Suicide

One night, while lying on a hospital bed with an IV running from his hand and unable to bear the pain, Clooney thought about suicide. He had reached this point where he thought he could not live with the pain and felt that there was nothing left for him but death. He said:

“You start to think in terms of; you don’t want to leave a mess, so go in the garage, go in the car, start the engine. It seems like the nicest way to do it, but I never thought I’d get there.”

Spinal Surgery

Despite being unable to move and experiencing headaches so bad he thought they were having a stroke, George Clooney was still bent on finding the cause. Fortunately, a neurologist was able to find out that this was due to a dural tear. 

Tear in the dura is a severe condition that allows cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) to leak out of its intended space, anywhere near your spinal cord.

Clooney underwent spinal surgery mainly to join two or more vertebrae. There are screws and rods placed within the vertebra to support the spine fusion.

After his surgery, George Clooney sought the help of a pain management expert to manage pain-related headaches. He said that although he still experiences these, they are less intense than before he approached a pain management expert. 

Accident,  Arthritis and Amal

Motorcycle Accident

As if that was not enough, in 2020, George Clooney was again in an operating room undergoing neck surgery for pain suspected to have stemmed from a 2018 motorcycle accident.

He was riding 75 mph when a car in front of him turned unexpectedly, and he rammed right into it. He says his wife Amal has since banned him from riding a motorcycle.

Neck Surgery and Arthritis

While doctors were carrying out minor neck surgery, for a disk problem, on Clooney, they found all sorts of issues. Doctors discovered the actor had arthritis in his neck.

Clooney went home with a neck brace, but he never wore it unless he sought sympathy. Instead of hiding in shame after his surgery, the famous actor put on that iconic smile and showed everyone what they could do!

Happily Married to Amal

George Clooney still gets occasional back pain, but that does not stop him from being happily married to Amal since 2014. The couple welcomes their twins in 2017- Alexander and Ella, who are both healthy!

The Bottom Line

When we think of pain, most people immediately picture an injury. But what if your chronic aches and pains are causing you more psychological damage than physical?

Take George Clooney’s story as proof: he revealed that his back injuries were actually the cause of depression during this period in life! 

Severe injuries and pain can affect your mental health, so share it with others if you find a relief solution. Support those in need just like yourself – don’t let back problems ruin all of the fun! 

Join our insider’s list and share your back pain journey with us! We want to support you every step of the way.