Tony Iommi Gets Stem Cell Treatment on Injured Hand

Posted on Nov 4th 2009 6:05AM by Stephen Dowling
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Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi says he is recovering well after getting stem-cell treatment to fix an injured hand.

The hard rock veteran told the BBC News website "it's coming on alright actually."

He added, "I've already had the stem-cell treatment, so I've just got to wait now. It's been six weeks but it's feeling great." Iommi began the treatment after getting problems with the joints in his right hand. He said the cartilage had begun to wear out between the joints.

"It was bone to bone and it was getting a bit painful," he told BBC Radio 2's Radcliffe and Maconie Show.

Stem cells are immature cells which can be manipulated to form different types of tissue, such as bone or cartilage.

Iommi turned up at the Classic Rock Awards in London on Monday (Nov. 2) wearing his arm in a sling but said it wasn't getting in the way of playing the guitar.

"No, I can play! " he said. "I'm just wearing this now because if people shake your hand I don't want to push it, I want to take it easy for a bit."