Why Hayden Panettiere Used Crutches on Outing With Ex Brian Hickerson

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Hayden Panettiere is focused on her recovery.

Following reports of actress Kirsten Dunst using crutches at Los Angeles International Airport while with her sometimes-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, her representatives released a statement about her condition.

Hayden has been quietly dealing with a temporary nerve issue, which explains why she’s been using crutches, according to her representative. She’s recovering nicely and is expected to make a full recovery, a statement released on March 3rd confirmed.

The actress from Nashville was seen wearing a tie-dye tracksuit and a white baseball cap, while her companion, Brian, wheeled a carry-on suitcase, according to photos published by TMZ.

While loading her bags into the car, she shared in a video that she’d recently had some pinched nerves in her lower back, but was now feeling well.

I was so shocked when I heard about her split from Brian back in 2020. It turned out there was a really difficult situation involving domestic violence, and sadly, Brian was arrested because of it. I remember reading that he actually turned himself in and ended up serving 45 days in jail, according to reports from TopMob News. It was a really tough time for everyone involved.

Brian, who previously admitted guilt to two felony charges of domestic violence, told TopMob News in 2021 that taking responsibility for his actions was the first step in his journey to change. He said Hayden had kindly allowed him to begin making things right.

Despite Hayden and Brian’s rocky relationship, she revealed that they are on good terms.

She told The New York Times in April 2023 that the person in question was experiencing emotions and believed they got what they deserved.

I’m really inspired by this woman – even while dealing with a health challenge, she’s focusing on something incredibly positive. She’s writing a memoir, and it’s amazing to see her embrace this new chapter and share her story. It just goes to show you can always find strength and purpose, no matter what life throws your way.

I’m so excited for Hayden’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, coming out in May! She’s shared how much writing it meant to her – it sounds like a truly transformative experience. As a long-time admirer, I know it will be honest and powerful, and I can’t wait to read about her life, especially as a mom to her amazing daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, with Wladimir Klitschko.

She told LA Weekly in January that writing her book, a process that’s taken about a year and a half, has been incredibly healing. She admitted it was difficult to be so open and vulnerable, sharing her life story and facing potential judgment. Her hope is that by sharing her experiences, others will feel less isolated in their own lives.

It’s been a real journey of discovery,” she said. “I talk about all aspects of my life – the good, the bad, and everything in between – and I try to be completely open and truthful. Sharing everything is both frightening and incredibly exciting.

Now that Hayden is on the mend, here are stories from other celebrities who have openly shared their health experiences.

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest during a wrestling match with Piper Niven in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, saying they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment – implying retirement from her profession – she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best. She wanted to be ready for future opportunities and make sure things didn’t appear neglected.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

Looking back, it’s amazing to see how openly people are sharing their health journeys now. For me, it really hit home when I learned that it took over a decade for one woman to finally feel comfortable enough to talk about what she was going through. She bravely shared on Instagram that she’d been quietly struggling for years, and it was such a powerful moment. It reminded me that so many of us keep things hidden for far too long, and it’s okay to finally speak up.

She explained that growing up, many of us are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being a woman. This often leaves us dealing with a very common experience on our own.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, causing a gap in her abdominal muscles.

She messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “You haven’t tweeted in ages!” She then jokingly added, “I’ve been meaning to tell you, but I think wearing super tight pants six months ago gave me a hernia, and I’ve been too afraid to say anything.”

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to repair a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, just before she collapsed. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

After receiving initial treatment from medical staff at the game, Savannah was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests. League officials reported she was in stable condition and fully conscious.

I was really surprised to learn that Adam Devine is still dealing with the effects of being hit by a cement truck when he was just 11 years old! He mentioned it in an interview, and it’s just incredible to think something that happened so long ago continues to impact him.

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been experiencing spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite working as it should.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He said he was in so much pain he had to crawl on his hands and knees, and the pain worsened during a road trip with a friend.

He described a strange tingling sensation that still lingered in his knees and toes as of a March 2025 podcast episode of Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a squat, can’t balance on one leg, and falls over. He compared the feeling to having had a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor known for 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but was now recovering.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday outing with her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. Brendan Rooney quickly helped her, checked her injuries, and drove her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet came dangerously close to her right eye – less than an inch away.

The former Kim Possible star shared that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against surgery to remove it right now, and they’re keeping a close watch on the situation, but thankfully their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she’d had a moment where she realized how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, despite its often harsh nature, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” and facing criticism online, doctors began commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition potentially caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Amy to realize she’d been receiving steroid injections following a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she called “the greatest news imaginable.” Amy shared this update in a February 2024 newsletter, relieved to be healthy.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald shared with ESPN how grateful they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and no parent should ever have to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly began to have stroke-like symptoms, struggling to speak and noticing her face drooping. Although her symptoms briefly subsided, she went to the hospital for evaluation. Doctors discovered she had a small blood clot in her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The blood clot had traveled through this hole and reached her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained that the virus affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it had become increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, calling the situation scary and random, but assuring everyone that he would be okay and was grateful he was on the mend.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the serious health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had previously kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, he explained that he was suffering from a severe headache when he suddenly lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became worried and took him to the hospital. There, they discovered he had a brain bleed that caused a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago to begin rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed them all.

The reality TV star said she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, everything went dark, but then she saw light again. This made her realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a sudden and severe headache while at the gym. She described becoming violently ill and realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan quickly revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain. It was determined she had an aneurysm, a rupture in an artery. She immediately underwent surgery to repair it, describing the pain as excruciating.

During her recovery, Emilia experienced aphasia, making it difficult to speak coherently. This thankfully passed after a week, and she was discharged from the hospital after a month. However, a scan in 2013 revealed the aneurysm had doubled in size, requiring a second surgery.

This second procedure was unsuccessful, leading to a major bleed. Doctors warned her that another surgery – this time requiring them to open her skull – was necessary for her to survive. Thankfully, Emilia has now made a full recovery and says she is at 100%.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, is thankful for the support of her family. In January 2024, she experienced a severe stroke and her loved ones immediately came to her aid. As she explained to TopMob News correspondent Will Marfuggi in December 2024, “Everybody just came to my rescue.”

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. She shared that while she could have gone home after the stroke, her lupus and failing kidneys required further treatment.

Today, Cori is recovering well. “I’m doing great,” she said. “I just had a little bit of motor skills that I had to work back on. But other than that, I was fine.”

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she revealed she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. Doctors offered various diagnoses, leaving her feeling confused and unwell.

Determined to find answers, Woodley combined traditional medical care with holistic approaches, drawing on her background in herbalism. This search for well-being lasted for a decade.

She explained that the physical discomfort led to anxiety around food and ultimately, struggles with body image and self-identity. However, after years of focusing on both her physical and mental health, Woodley is now feeling much better and is happy to report she is very healthy.

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2026-03-04 01:19