Travis Barker had fans wondering what was going on after sharing photos from a hospital bed this week, offering no explanation. All fans knew was that he had two important women in his life by his side.
© @travisbarkerOn Tuesday, October 6, the Blink-182 drummer posted two photos to his Instagram Stories showing him in a hospital gown and surgical cap. In one, his daughter Alabama Barker sat beside him, with Travis writing, “MY BABY GIRL CAME WITH ME.”
Alabama is one of the two children Barker shares with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, along with their son Landon.
© @travisbarkerIn another, his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, leaned over to kiss him as he lay on the hospital bed. “AND MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE BY MY SIDE,” he wrote.
There was no explanation for why he was in the hospital, what procedure he was having, or whether something serious had happened.
The photos naturally left fans wondering what was going on, especially since Barker appeared to be preparing for some kind of procedure. After the surgery, he let fans know it was nothing super major.
Why he needed surgery
© @travisbarkerOn Wednesday, October 7, Barker revealed that he had undergone surgery after dealing with numbness in his arm, hand, and fingers.
“I had surgery yesterday,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. “My arm, hand and fingers have been numb since a show I played last month.”
Barker said he underwent a nerve test Monday after his show and learned that he needed a cubital tunnel release to fix the nerve.
Cubital tunnel syndrome involves compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve around the elbow and can cause numbness or tingling in the hand and fingers, per Mayo Clinic.
© XNY/Star MaxKardashian and Barker have gone through plenty of highs and lows together. And while she's clearly a supportive wife, Barker couldn't resist making a joke about her expression. “Not sure why my wife looks so happy about this,” he wrote over the photo of Kourtney smiling beside him.
The couple has been there for each other through serious personal and health challenges. In 2023, she underwent emergency fetal surgery while pregnant with the couple's son Rocky.
© GC ImagesMore recently, Barker opened up about how falling in love with Kourtney helped him confront some of the trauma he carried after surviving a 2008 plane crash. He credited their relationship with giving him hope and helping him eventually overcome his fear of flying.
Barker's history with his hands
Barker hasn't said that years of drumming caused his condition, but the issue is particularly notable for someone whose career depends on his hands.
The drummer has already learned the hard way that keeping his body healthy is part of keeping his career going.
© GettyIn 2023, he injured his left ring finger during Blink-182 rehearsals, dislocating it and tearing the ligaments. The injury required surgery and forced the band to postpone the beginning of its reunion tour.
At the time, Barker explained why having the procedure was ultimately necessary. “It was a hard decision to make, but ultimately I couldn't continue to play the drums without it,” he said after the surgery.
More than three years later, he's once again making sure an injury doesn't keep him from doing what he loves. “I wanted to get ahead of it and get it over with so that I can keep playing the way I play for a long, long time,” Barker wrote, offering a timeline for his recovery, “Should be good in a few weeks."
He's no stranger to the long road back
© The StateBarker's decision to deal with the problem now also fits into a much bigger part of his story - recovery.
The drummer survived a devastating 2008 plane crash that killed four people and left him with severe burns. He underwent numerous surgeries and spent years dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath.
He's also faced other serious health issues over the years, including a 2022 hospitalization for severe pancreatitis.
But even through those setbacks, Barker has continued performing, touring, and pushing his body to keep up with the life he's built around music.
