Rio Ferdinand's Hidden Struggle with Pain After Football Career
Former England and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has made a startling confession about his health, revealing that he sometimes uses a wheelchair to cope with debilitating back pain following his retirement from professional football. This admission comes in stark contrast to his recent appearance on the cover of Men's Health UK, where he showcased a super buff physique.
Chronic Injuries from Football Take a Toll
Rio Ferdinand has been open about the long-term effects of his football career, explaining that he has suffered from a bad back for many years. He detailed how injuries sustained during his playing days have led to severe pain, forcing him to rely on a wheelchair on some occasions. "I've had a bad back for a long time. I've got injuries that I had from my career... I was on tablets and injections for six years to play games. That's affected me," he stated in a recent interview.
The former defender described unpredictable episodes of intense pain that can land him in hospital or require wheelchair use for several days. "I get some bad moments of back pain where I have to be in a hospital for a couple of days or in a wheelchair for a couple of days. It's mad, but it just comes out of nowhere," he added. Since retiring, Ferdinand has begun seeing a physiotherapist for the first time, who performs manipulations to alleviate his discomfort.
A Holistic Approach to Recovery and Family Life
Ferdinand is now adopting a more integrated approach to his health, working closely with both a physio and a personal trainer in Dubai, where he has relocated with his wife Kate and their children. "He's been doing loads of manipulations and whatnot, and within his building there's also my personal trainer, so he feeds him information about my training. There's a holistic approach to what I'm doing now and hopefully that'll put me in good stead," he explained.
Inspired by his parents' work ethic, Ferdinand emphasized the importance of hard work, a value he hopes to pass on to his own children. "When my kids talk about me, as much as it is, yeah, 'Daddy loves me' and 'Daddy’s done everything for me.' It’s 'Daddy worked hard. He was a hustler.' You know what I mean?" he said, highlighting his commitment to staying active and productive post-retirement.
Kate Ferdinand's Emotional Challenges in Dubai
Meanwhile, Kate Ferdinand has shared her own struggles with the family's move to Dubai nearly six months ago. She admitted to feeling emotionally drained and not like herself, particularly after the hectic December holiday season. "So I have a December hangover, not alcohol but an emotional December hangover and I’ve told whether to talk to you guys about this but I don’t feel like I’m being myself. I’m not feeling myself," she confessed.
Kate explained that the pressure of parenting during Christmas, combined with missing family back in the UK, has taken a toll. "And then we see family that we really miss and that feeling of missing them, sometimes we have to see family we don’t really like and fit back into roles we had as children which comes with an emotional hangover as well," she added. She noted that the expectation to start anew in January feels unrealistic, as her body and mind need more time to adjust.
The couple moved to Dubai with their young children, Cree and Shae, as well as Rio's three older children from a previous relationship, Lorenz, Tate, and Tia. Despite the challenges, both Rio and Kate are navigating this new chapter with honesty and resilience, balancing health issues and family dynamics in their adopted home.
