It's no secret that, with the blessing of celebrity, comes the many burdens of fame — from impossibly busy schedules to dealing with tabloid scrutiny.
However, for many stars, chronic pain presents an additional burden. According to Dr. Robert Kaniecki, director of the Headache Center at the University of Pittsburgh, even stars sometimes don't know when it's time to get treatment for serious pain.
"They often are like us — they often don't get help right away, they often try to tough it out, and feel as if trying to get medication is a sign of weakness," Kaniecki said. But, he added, "When they finally do get the right treatments, it changes their lives."
And in dealing with their pain, these stars may be helping not only themselves. Celebrities who come forward with their stories of chronic pain — and how they overcame their conditions — may serve as sources of inspiration for many of their fans who may also experience chronic pain of their own.
The following pages feature a number of prominent actors, athletes and musical stars who have battled — and in some cases, continue to battle — chronic pain.
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