Andie MacDowell has shared a health update about her battle with Piriformis Syndrome, a painful condition caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve. The Four Weddings and a Funeral star recently revealed how the diagnosis initially left her fearing she might need a hip replacement.
Here’s what MacDowell shared about her journey with her health condition, how she’s managing it, and the lifestyle changes she’s embraced.
Andie MacDowell shares health update
The 66-year-old thespian has opened up about her health struggles with Piriformis Syndrome. It is a condition where the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve, causing pain and inflammation.
Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show on January 23, 2025, MacDowell explained, “It’s a muscle that’s kind of clamps down on my sciatic nerve, and it was shooting down my leg. I thought I was gonna have to have a hip replacement.”
The Groundhog Day star attributed the worsening of her symptoms to overusing her Peloton bike. “I ended up with bad knees and a bad hip and … I thought I was literally falling apart, like I was gonna have to get new pieces,” she said. Despite this, MacDowell avoided surgery and now manages her condition with daily physical therapy. “I have to work my tiny little bottom and my hips. I just do it every day, and it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s a miracle.”
Per Andie MacDowell, she has also made significant lifestyle changes, including relocating from Los Angeles to South Carolina. “I moved down to South Carolina and I live in a community that has a lot of people my age, so it makes it really easy to socialize,” she explained.
This transition followed the actress’ adjustment to being an empty nester. “Once my kids left, I felt this huge void in my life because they were so important to me,” she said. Moreover, MacDowell’s daughter Margaret Qualley encouraged her to embrace her independence, advising her that “she needed to get a life.”
Now focusing on her health and happiness, Andie MacDowell shared, “I’m having the time of my life now. It’s really good.”
