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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Miriam Burrell

Mike Tyson says he has sciatica that sometimes leaves him unable to talk

Boxing great Mike Tyson has revealed he suffers from sciatica after being spotted in a wheelchair last month.

The 56-year-old was seen with mobility issues at a Miami airport, raising concerns over his health.

He has told Newsmax TV that he has sciatica “every now and then and it flares up”.

“When it flairs up I can’t even talk.”

Sciatica is an irritated nerve that can cause pain from the lower back and spread down one leg.

He said it’s the only health condition he is suffering from at the moment.

“Thank God it’s the only health problem I have. I’m splendid now.

“Everybody in my house is truly blessed and we’re all very grateful for what we have,” he added.

During the interview with Greta Van Susteren, the American spoke about how he plays tennis “but it’s not working out too well for me”.

It comes after the former world heavyweight championmade comments on his podcast Hot Boxin’ with therapist Sean McFarland about death.

Tyson said: “Some people want to analyse their success, which is ridiculous.

“We’re all going to die one day, of course.

“Then I look in the mirror and I see those little spots on my face and I go ‘wow, my expiration date is coming close, really soon, what do you do with that, how do you think about that death thing?”

Sciatica usually gets better in four to six weeks, but it can sometimes last longer, NHS health advice said.

Last month he told Muscle and Health magazine that he uses drugs to prep for boxing fights.

He said he smokes cannabis everyday and micro-doses magic mushrooms to prepare for his matches.

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