Heavy metal band drummer, Joey Jordison from Slipknot has died “peacefully in his sleep” at the age of 46.
A statement from Joey’s family read: “Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow.
“To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart, and his love for all things family and music”.
The heavy metal musician’s cause of death was not confirmed, but he had suffered from transverse myelitis, a nerve disease that affects the spinal cord.
He was diagnosed with the disease, a form of multiple sclerosis a few years ago before he passed away on July 26. He had lost the ability to move his legs.
Talking about his illness back in 2016, Joey told the Mirror: “Towards the end of my career in Slipknot, I got really, really sick with a horrible disease called transverse myelitis.
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“I lost my legs. I couldn’t play anymore. It was a form of multiple sclerosis, which I don’t wish on my worst enemy.”
Joey felt sure he was fired from the band in 2013 due to his illness, stating: “They got confused about my health issues and obviously even I didn’t know what it was at first.
“They thought I was f****d up on drugs, which I wasn’t at all.”
What is transverse myelitis?
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Transverse myelitis is an attack of inflammation of the spinal cord, causing nerve damage.
The disease interrupts signals that the spinal cord nerves send throughout the body.
It usually affects both sides of the body, but sometimes people can experience symptoms on just one side below the affected area of the spinal cord.
Results of this can lead to, pain, muscle weakness, paralysis, sensory problems, or bladder and bowel dysfunction.
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People may experience weakness in their arms or legs or abnormal sensations such as numbness, tingling, coldness or burning.
Pain in the lower back, or sharp pains down the legs, around the chest or abdomen, depending on where the part of your spinal cord is affected.
Some may also experience irregular bladder or bowel problems such as the need to urinate more, difficulty urinating or constipation.
There can be different reasons why someone can develop transverse myelitis, such as an infection or immune system disorders and multiple sclerosis.
But other times there is no reason why people can develop transverse myelitis and it can develop with no prior warning.
Treatment is available for the disease which involves medication and rehabilitative therapy to help the spinal cord.
The majority of people with transverse myelitis recover, at least partially.
Those who suffer from severe attacks can be left with major disabilities impacting everyday life, such as the ability to move the legs.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
