Billy Joel talks about his recent brain surgery

Last year, Billy Joel was diagnosed with a brain disorder called normal pressure hydrocephalus, and he immediately canceled all his tour plans to focus on his health. In a new interview with SiriusXM, the musician talked about the procedure he underwent and how he is feeling now.

Billy Joel talks about his recent brain surgery

“I noticed that my balance was not good. I had this sense of being on a boat, like this rocking motion. I wasn’t steady on my feet. I didn’t know why that was. And I went to meet with the neurologist and I was diagnosed with having something called normal pressure hydrocephalus, which they used to call water on the brain. Nobody’s really sure what causes it, but they’re able to diagnose it.”

The doctors said that it could get worse and recommended that he undergo surgery to have a shunt implanted in his brain. “I said, ‘Well, what does that entail?’ ‘Well, we drill a hole through your skull and we stick a shunt inside your brain. I said, ‘Nah, I think I’ll pass on that.’ I didn’t want to do that.”

“I read up on it and I realized it can help improve your balance and can help your memory. I don’t want to lose my marbles. It’s hard to tell what’s age and what’s a condition. So, I agreed to do the shunt and I had a surgery and they implanted a shunt in my brain and it actually improved things. My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better.”

He continued:

“I realized, and the doctors told me (to get the surgery), because of my job, which is playing rock and roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show. It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more I played the more shows I did. And I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now. I gotta improve.”

“They don’t want me to stress too much. So, I’m doing physical therapy. I’m doing whatever it is they tell me to do because I don’t want to lose it. I know people have heard, ‘Oh, he’s got a brain disorder.’ And I’m okay. I just want people to know, don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here,” Billy Joel said (Transcribed by Ultimate Classic Rock).

Since he canceled the tour dates, Joel only performed once back in January. It was a surprise two-song guest appearance with a Billy Joel tribute band.