In July 2009, X Japan’s Yoshiki was diagnosed with cervical foraminal stenosis and underwent a cervical laminectomy and a cervical foraminotomy. What this means is, his one-of-a-kind fierce drumming techniques led to his condition and it is now taking a huge toll on his physical health. Within the past six months alone, Yoshiki has suffered from a herniated disc and between touring across the world with X Japan, his solo career, and promoting the documentary We Are X, his condition worsened. It has been determined by numerous doctors that Yoshiki will undergo an emergency cervical artificial disc replacement surgery next Tuesday (16) in Los Angeles, resulting in the immediate cancellation of the band’s May tour dates. Upcoming summer dates through September are currently in the process of being rescheduled, depending on the results of Yoshiki’s operation.
Neel Anand, M.D., Yoshiki’s Orthopedic Spine surgeon expressed:
“I had the pleasure of seeing Yoshiki, who has a C5-6 disc herniation with left arm radiculopathy. He has been recommended to have a cervical artificial disc replacement.”
Dr Tommy Tomizawa, M.D. explained:
“It was decided upon consultation that he will undergo emergency surgery as the condition of his neck at present will interfere not only with his career as an artist, but also with everyday life. From viewing the results of the MRI and CT scans, the damage is so severe that it is apparent that he has experienced considerable pain while performing. As this would be his second such procedure, we eliminated the option of a cervical foraminotomy, an operation in which a portion of bone is removed. Yoshiki’s symptoms reappeared at the Visual Japan Summit festival, which was held last October in Japan. By the time he performed in January of this year at New York’s Carnegie Hall, he had already lost the sensation in his left hand. The symptoms worsened this March following the U.K. Wembley performance, but he continued recording. Even in his condition at that state, Yoshiki stated that he wanted to see things through to the end. However, due to the worsening of his symptoms, doctors, determined that if the situation continued he would have gone beyond the point of surgery and recovery.”
