MICHAEL SMITH has been left fearing that he needs major surgery.
The darts star has revealed he has been diagnosed with “severe osteoarthritis” in his shoulder.
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Smith, 34, earned the title of World Champion back in 2023 after beating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
Since then, he has struggled to stay at the top of the darts world due to the emergence of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.
He has still been a competitive force at the oche and is currently ranked 21st in the PDC Order of Merit.
However, the former champ is set to continue his career with the help of injections.
Due to his condition, he will be left potentially needing surgery after he retires from darts.
Smith admitted scaring himself after googling the condition, as it is a degenerative joint disease.
Bully Boy could ultimately require a shoulder replacement by the time he is in his mid-forties.
He told Online Darts: “I went on holiday, so it was the third one I missed.
“I got my MRI back for my shoulder. I’ve got severe osteoarthritis or something like that—I can’t even say it properly.
“The next step now is injections for my shoulder and wrist.
“Worst case is a shoulder replacement, which isn’t great, but that would only be when I retire. For now, it’s injections.
“A new shoulder would be like learning to play again. I got scared when I Googled it.
“I just heard arthritis, but then all the stuff before it scared me.
“They mentioned cortisone for my wrist, PRP which I need too, and then shoulder replacement where they cut your rotator cuff.
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“That’s where I panicked. But the operation won’t be until I retire anyway—45, 46 maybe. For now, I’ll just deal with it.
Smith does not currently have a next match scheduled.
He recently missed out on qualification to the World Matchplay for the first time since 2013.
His last time at the oche ended in defeat as he was beaten in the first round of the Players Championship 21 by Polish ace Krzysztof Ratajski.
