Eric Clapton Struggles To Play The Guitar Due To Nerve System Damage

Eric Clapton has admitted to losing the ability to play the guitar after suffering nerve damage, in a new interview released on Friday.

Eric Clapton Suffers Nerve System Damage, Trouble Playing Guitar

Clapton, 71, told Classic Guitar magazine in a new interview, that he’s “been in a lot of pain the last year.” The rock star went on to share details about his nerve condition.

“It started with lower back pain and turned into what they call peripheral neuropathy, which is where you feel like you have electric shocks going down your leg,” Clapton revealed. “And I’ve had to figure out how to deal with some other things from getting old.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, peripheral neuropathy may be inherited or caused by injury, infection and exposure to toxins.

Clapton recently dropped I Still Do — his 23rd solo album. He appreciates the opportunity he’s been given to still be around to do what he loves.

“Because I’m in recovery from alcoholism and addiction to substances, I consider it a great thing to be alive at all,” Clapton said. “By rights I should have kicked the bucket a long time ago. For some reason I was plucked from the jaws of hell and given another chance.”