Morgan Freeman's ongoing battle with a painful health condition

Morgan Freeman, acclaimed for his deep, resonant voice and a career spanning over five decades, is known for his roles in iconic films like 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'Million Dollar Baby.' Despite his vibrant acting career, many fans may not know about the chronic pain he battles every day—a consequence of a severe car accident in 2008 near his Mississippi home.

In 2008, Freeman was involved in a devastating car accident that required him to be cut from his vehicle using the Jaws of Life. The crash resulted in a broken arm, elbow, and shoulder damage, leading to a painful journey of recovery that continues to affect him today.

Follow us for more health and entertainment news

Years after the accident, Freeman disclosed in an interview with Esquire that he suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain.  "Up and down the arm. That's where it gets so bad. Excruciating,” he said in 2012.

Journalist Tom Chiarella, writing for Esquire, observed firsthand the impact of the condition on Freeman. Despite surgeries intended to repair nerve damage, Freeman continues to suffer from significant pain that affects his mobility and quality of life. “It hurts when he walks, when he sits still, when he rises from the couch, and when he missteps in a damp meadow,” Chiarella commented.

While the fibromyalgia has left him unable to pilot jets, sail solo to the Caribbean, ride horses daily or even drive a stick like he used to, the actor keeps up a positive attitude. “There is a point to changes like these. I have to move on to other things, to other conceptions of myself. I play golf. I still work. And I can be pretty happy just walking the land,” he told Esquire.

To manage his symptoms, Freeman often wears a compression glove, as he did to the 2023 Oscars. This glove helps prevent blood pooling and mitigates pain in his affected hand. However, it’s rarely seen during movies and he often removes it for promotional videos.

In Dec. 2023, The National Enquirer cited an unnamed source saying his health had deteriorated and was in “constant agony.” However, a representative for the actor told Radar Online: “Morgan is in fine health.”

While Freeman may be struggling with pain, that hasn’t stopped him from working. The actor is still acting in a recurrent role in the TV series ‘Special Ops: Lioness,’ playing U.S. Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. He also continues narrating amazing documentaries, the last one being ‘Life on Our Planet,’ in 2023.

The actor’s vigor also comes despite his age. Born in 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee in the segregated South two years before WWII began, he moved to Chicago when he was six and got into acting at school. Since then, he’s made history — winning prestigious awards like an Oscar, Golden Globe and becoming widely considered one of the best actors of all time.

Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body, according to the NHS. Other symptoms include increased sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffness, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and feelings of frustration, worry or low mood. Other celebs who have suffered from the condition include Lady Gaga, Janeane Garofalo and Sinéad O'Connor.

Follow us for more health and entertainment news