Billy Joel cancelling concerts r/t NPH

CinnamonSugar

CinnamonSugar

A Quiet American
If anyone has already started a thread on this, I apologize... I really did check

I just feel so badly for Billy Joel having to cancel concerts because of new diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus =( He's such a great song writer and entertainer. I don't know a lot about the disease, but I imagine it will be a long road to recovery. I hope he can get back to doing what he loves sooner than later!
 

Some of our great musicians/singers are dealing with health issues. Ann Wilson from Heart canceled her concerts last year (we were booked) due to cancer. Fortunately, she is on the mend but she is singing from a wheelchair currently due to other injuries.
 

Joel is currently undergoing targeted physical therapy as prescribed by his doctor and has been 'advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.'

When diagnosed early, NPH can often be effectively treated with surgery that drains excess fluid from the brain, relieving pressure and symptoms.
However, if left untreated, the condition may lead to permanent damage in its later stages.

The legendary musician also expressed his gratitude for the care he's receiving and thanked fans for their continued support.

'I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,' Joel wrote on Instagram.

'Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health,' the statement added.

​

 
Hydrocephalus is what my son was born with, which is different from NPH, what Joel has and is something that people get when older. When I saw this in the news yesterday I was stunned. Sent the story to my daughter, and called my son to tell him. They too were stunned. We all love his music, maybe it's bc we too come from Long Island NY. I hope he will be okay.

It didn't say so in the original news story, but hydrocephalus requires surgery. Often there are later problems requiring new surgeries. I hope not in this case.
 
Billy’s condition is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid deep within the brain, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It can lead to problems with walking, bladder control, and thinking and reasoning.


Dr. Leah Croll, a neurologist at Maimonides Health, tells ABC News that the condition is “treatable and reversible,” depending on the cause and the patient’s situation. It can either be treated permanently by surgically inserting a tube in the brain for fluid drainage, or managed with medication and physical therapy.


Croll adds, “For Billy Joel, there would not necessarily be any reason to expect something other than a full recovery. We can’t be certain … there’s so many factors that go into a recovery, but in general, people do very well with this.”


The statement on Billy’s Instagram page noted that his condition had been made worse by concert performances, leading to “problems with hearing, vision, and balance.” It went on to say, “Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.”


Croll explains why performing right now is a bad idea.


“Doing taxing physical activity is going to put stress on the brain, and it’s going to make those symptoms come out more,” she says. “Because the brain can’t compensate as well as it normally does when it’s devoting so much energy to a performance.”
 
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I'm hoping that this news brings more information about hydrocephalus to the general public.

Edited to add: By the way, someone else started another topic on this.
 
Jace said:
Makes me wonder..
with a very active brain
more susceptible?
Click to expand...
No sir, there is no connection whatsoever. For one thing, many people have hydrocephalus from birth, like my son. And I have never heard of such a connection in the kind older people get either, and with all my reading and conferences, I would know if such a thing existed.
 

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