Country music legend Shania Twain is reportedly concerned for her health following a painful on-stage fall recently, as the star fears her horrific Lyme disease symptoms may be returning.
A celebrated icon in the music industry, 57-year-old Shania made headlines earlier this month after taking a fall while on her 76-date concert tour stop in Chicago.
The incident has allegedly now sparked concerns among the Canadian songbird’s friends and fans that she might still be suffering with the debilitating effects of Lyme disease, per Radar Online.
Despite the painful fall, Shania – widely known for her empowering hit Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – displayed remarkable resilience as she bounced back to finish the show. Though, sources close to her have revealed that the fall served as a painful reminder that her 20-year battle with the tick-borne illness may likely be far from over.
The That Don’t Impress Me Much crooner’s struggles with Lyme disease began in 2003 when she was bitten by a tick while horse riding. The illness severely affected her health – causing nerve damage in her vocal cords, episodes of temporary memory loss, and leaving her unsteady on her feet.
In her own words, the Hollwood Walk of Famer recalled in her Netflix documentary Not Just a Girl that she experienced debilitating symptoms before receiving a proper diagnosis. “I was losing my balance. I was afraid I was going to fall off the stage,” she said, adding that investigating the source of the symptoms was a challenging journey.
Amidst her health woes, Shania chose to take a hiatus from music, undergoing throat surgery and embarking on a daunting process of relearning how to sing.
A close friend told Radar Online: “It is scary for her to think these horrible symptoms she’s suffered are coming back now.”
Lyme disease, known for its complex nature, continues to perplex medical experts – as the disease effectively invades various tissues in the body, including the muscles, brain, and even the vocal cords. Antibiotics can offer temporary control, but many sufferers can experience the horrific symptoms for months and even years after first being treated, according to a Forbes report on the illness.
Shania continued to shed light on the profound impact Lyme disease has had on her life in her Netflix documentary. She expressed her genuine apprehension that the disease would permanently impair her voice, potentially jeopardizing her musical career.
“My voice was never the same again,” she shared. “I thought I’d lose my voice forever. I thought that was it, [and] I would never, ever sing again.”
The long-time resident of Switzerland ended up having to undergo a rigorous open-throat surgery, an intense procedure that aimed to restore her vocal abilities. The successful operation served as a turning point in her journey to recovery and paved the way for her eventual return to the stage in 2017.
Determined as ever, Shania hasn’t let her illness stop her from doing what she does best. In fact, after concluding her Las Vegas residency in September 2022, she embarked on her highly anticipated concert tour in April.
As she continues on with her tour, her journey serves as a powerful reminder that Shania Twain is an artist who refuses to let circumstances define her.
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