Ashley Judd Shares Health Update After Misdiagnosis Left Her 'Suffering Unnecessarily'

Ashley Judd is opening up about a discovery relating to her health about three months after her latest health update, in which she detailed her ongoing struggle with chronic pain and echoed comments she made weeks prior about the headaches she's had for "years."

On Wednesday, the 56-year-old actress took to her Instagram grid with six slides of text that explained the new findings and what they mean for her current situation as well going forward.

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“As we mark #WorldMentalHealthDay this week, I wanted to share an update with you all on my own health journey. Xx,” she wrote in the caption accompanying her Oct. 9 upload.

The content typed on her first slide briefly recapped Judd's symptoms, noting that in July 2024, she opened up about chronic pain that was "so agonizing and relentless" it "demanded all my attention and sometimes left me unable to do anything but lie down and weep," on top of that, in May 2024 she revealed she had another "one of the epic headaches that have afflicted me over the years."

"That was one of the many chapters of being with my body when it hurt during which I chased solutions that always seemed to be imminent, but always failed," she wrote.

Related: Ashley Judd Opens Up About 'Great Terror' of Mom Naomi's 'Untreated' Medical Battle

However, in recent days, she said a whole lot has changed—and for the better, leading her to hope that she may be able to "soon close the book on this phase of my life."

Judd went on, explaining that she's come to learn the headaches that plagued her had been "misdiagnosed for eight years," something she said she "discovered through an auspicious friendship."

"For those eight miserable years I had been treated, at some of our finest medical institutions, with medications for a type of headache that I do not have." 

"To know that I had gone through all that suffering unnecessarily, because all the solutions prescribed were doomed to fail, has been profoundly disillusioning," the Double Jeopardy actress added.

Since making the "staggering revelation," Judd suggested she's changed her course of treatment to something that should provide her with relief. "I am now being cared for by headache scientists with a far better approach. Since September 14th, my body has felt well—the 'pain burden' has lifted. Head pain is intermittent these days. My hope is renewed."

Though the Someone Like You alum didn't disclose what her new care plan looks like or offer up any info on what she's being treated for now, she did close out the lengthy post with some uplifting words on how she's approaching the rest of her healing journey.

"For anyone living with chronic pain, which can feel like endless losing and no gaining, please know that asking for help while supporting yourself and meeting your own needs is a delicate balancing act, one I am very familiar with and still learning to negotiate. But I also know it works."

"I cannot know what comes next, but I do hold the deep conviction that my life is blessed," she said, grateful for the support of her community—including her sister, Wynonna Judd, her aunt and her partner—and to be turning a new leaf.

Next: Ashley Judd Hikes the Alps in Celebration of "Stunning Recovery" 2.5 Years After Leg Injury