What Disease Does Eric Clapton Have?

Eric Clapton the legendary guitarist singer has publicly shared his struggles with a few health issues over the years. However one disease that has affected him deeply is peripheral neuropathy.

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the functioning of the nerves outside the brain spinal cord. It can cause weakness numbness pain especially in the hands feet. In some cases it can also affect other parts of the body.

How Did Eric Clapton Develop Peripheral Neuropathy?

Eric Clapton has been a prolific guitar player for over five decades his skills have been admired by many. However such prolonged intense use of his hands fingers has taken a toll on his nerve health. In an interview with Classic Guitar magazine in 2016 Clapton revealed that he started experiencing plantar fasciitis neuropathy when he was around 50 years old.

Over time the pain numbness in his feet started to affect his ability to play the guitar effectively. He had to undergo a few surgeries as well to alleviate the pain but it still persists to some degree.

How Does Peripheral Neuropathy Affect Eric Clapton?

As a musician Eric Clapton relies heavily on his hands feet to play the guitar perform on stage. However his struggle with peripheral neuropathy has affected his ability to perform like he used to. In some concerts he has had to sit down to play as he couldn’t stfor long periods of time due to the pain in his feet.

Clapton has also had to modify his playing style to accommodate his nerve condition. He has moved away from using thinner picks as they don’t provide enough grip he has started using heavier picks to compensate for his weakened grip. Additionally he has stopped playing the guitar for hours on end like he used to he takes frequent breaks to rest his hands feet.

Conclusion

Peripheral neuropathy is not a life-threatening disease but it can severely impact a person’s quality of life especially if they rely on their hands feet for their profession. Eric Clapton’s experience with this condition is a testament to the fact that even the most skilled accomplished musicians are not immune to health problems.

However Clapton has also shown that with the right attitude adjustments he can still continue to play the guitar entertain his fans with his music.