Gary Numan’s wife Gemma has shared a devastating health update, revealing she has been left paralysed in one arm following spinal surgery — a rare but known complication that has turned the past few months into an emotional ordeal for the family.
Gemma, 57, disclosed the news on Instagram on Thursday, posting a poignant photo of herself walking with her husband, music legend Gary Numan, 67, through Kew Gardens in London.
Alongside the image, she wrote candidly:
“Still recovering [from] the sadder outcome of left arm paralysis after my multi-level discectomy,” referring to the operation she underwent late last year.
A multi-level discectomy involves removing damaged or herniated discs from multiple levels of the spine to relieve pressure on surrounding nerves. While paralysis is extremely rare, it remains a recognised risk due to the procedure’s proximity to the spinal cord and nerve roots.
The revelation comes just months after the family was rocked by further tragedy — the death of Gary’s younger brother John in November.
‘Paralysed Straight Away’
In a separate, deeply personal post showing her lying in bed, Gemma revealed the paralysis occurred immediately after surgery on her cervical spine on December 11.
“Paralyzed left arm straight away! It’s one of the sad things that can happen,” she wrote.
While physiotherapy has helped her regain some movement in her lower arm and biceps, she admitted there is still “nothing” in her shoulder or the surrounding area.
The reality has been particularly cruel as Gemma is left-handed — a detail that made the emotional impact even more devastating.
She shared how she bought a small travel paint kit in an attempt to lift her spirits, only to break down when she realised she could no longer use it properly.
“Got back, cried and realized I can’t use it cos I’m left handed,” she wrote.
“So I tried by turning the paper round all the time! It’s s*** but that’s with my lead hand which is now not really working with any control.”
Months Away From Home And Family
Gemma has been unable to return to the family’s Los Angeles home since September. The couple arrived in the UK on December 4 — just a week before her operation — and she has remained there ever since.
Married since 1997, the couple share three daughters — Raven, Persia and Echo — who are based in LA. Gemma admitted the separation has been unbearable, particularly when it comes to missing her animals.
“I miss my animals so much it makes [me] feel sick,” she wrote.
“Gary has looked after me here in UK the whole time. And I Facetime babies. But animals are just missed.”
She added bluntly:
“No one can ever understand how s*** it is and not glamorous plus my health s*** my animals have lost months with me.”
‘He Put Everything On Hold For Me’
Gemma also paid an emotional tribute to Gary, revealing he has put his career on hold to care for her throughout her recovery.
“He has been bored s***less with so much looking after me,” she admitted,
“and it’s all my fault he’s fallen behind on all things Numan again to look after me.”
The spinal surgery was just one of three operations Gemma has undergone since August — with another still ahead.
A Long And Complicated Health Battle
Last summer, Gemma revealed she was preparing for five cervical discs to be removed and replaced, delaying the operation until after Gary’s tour ended in December. At the time, she said a temporary spinal procedure had given her eight months of relief before “the neck pain and migraines came screaming back.”
She has also spoken openly about being diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome — a rare vascular condition where the left renal vein is compressed — and revealed she may require a kidney autotransplant, a complex operation in which her own kidney would be repositioned inside her body.
On top of that, Gemma has been diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome and pelvic congestion syndrome, and suggested the May-Thurner condition may have caused the blood clot that led to a mini-stroke she suffered in 2024.
“I’m a broken nightmare! Hopefully getting fixed!” she wrote at the time.
In mid-2024, Gary also revealed Gemma had been treated for a heart arrhythmia that caused her pulse to spike to dangerously high levels, describing it as a “scary time” for the family.
A Family Pushed To The Limit
Between Gemma’s escalating health crisis and the sudden death of Gary’s younger brother — news the singer received while on stage during his tour — the past year has tested the couple like never before.
Yet through pain, grief and uncertainty, they have continued to face each challenge together.
And as Gemma’s honest words show, this is not a story of glamour or celebrity — but of resilience, love, and the harsh realities that can arrive without warning.
Source:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
