Travis Barker’s Health: Everything to Know About His Pancreatitis and Other Health Issues

Travis Barker, the drummer for Blink-182 and husband of Kourtney Kardashian, has suffered from many injuries and health scares throughout the years. Most notably, in September 2008, Travis was in a plane crash that killed four people and left him with third-degree burns covering 65% of his body. After the traumatic incident, Travis did not fly in a plane until 13 years later — when he went on Kylie Jenner‘s private jet in June 2021 from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas.

Later addressing the sudden change of heart, he credited Kourtney for helping him face his fear. “She had just said to me, ‘I would love to do so much traveling with you. I want to go to Italy with you. I want to go to Cabo with you. I want to go to Paris with you. I want to go to Bora Bora with you,’” he told Nylon in September 2021. “And I said, ‘Well, when the day comes you want to fly, I’m telling you I’ll do it with you. I would do anything with you. And just give me 24 hours’ notice.’ And that’s what she did.”

But, his stance about flying has not changed. “I still hate flying. I love touring and playing music but I unfortunately associate traveling and flying with death. I am strong and nothing can keep me from living life though,” he tweeted in September 2023. 

More recently, over the past few years, Travis has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, tested positive for COVID-19, and more. Find out more about Travis Barker’s health here.

Travis’ Pancreas Problems

“I went in for an endoscopy Monday feeling great,” Barker wrote on Instagram in a statement in July 2022, shortly after a hospitalization. “But, after dinner, I developed excruciating pain and have been hospitalized ever since. During the endoscopy, I had a very small polyp removed right in a very sensitive area, usually handled by specialists, which unfortunately damaged a critical pancreatic drainage tube. This resulted in severe, life-threatening pancreatitis.”

He added, “I am so very, very grateful that with intensive treatment [and] I am currently much better.”

His wife also shared some thoughts following the incident. “Oh what a scary and emotional week it has been,” Kourtney wrote on Instagram. “Our health is everything and sometimes we take for granted how quickly it can change. Travis and I went in for a routine endoscopy together and he ended up with severe, life-threatening pancreatitis. I am so grateful to God for healing my husband, for all of your prayers for him and for us, for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support.”

COVID-19 Diagnosis, Chronic Pain Disorder, and Other Recent Health Issues

In September 2023, the Blink-182 drummer listed the things he’s been dealing with. “[L]ast week I had covid, an episode of trigeminal neuralgia, and a root canal,” he wrote. “Which means I can pretty much handle anything god throws at me.” He has also shared the positive at-home COVID-19 test.

What is Trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is an extremely rare chronic pain disorder that affects the nerves in the head and face, which leads to severe facial pain, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Travis’ Broken Bones

He has had a few broken bones over the years — in November 2022, he broke his toe and documented the trip to the hospital and had to get a brace on his foot. In February 2023, he broke his finger and even needed surgery to repair it. Travis shared several photos throughout the process, posting the X-ray of his hand and graphic photos of his broken finger on Instagram. “It’s painful,” the Blink-182 member said in one video when a doctor asked how his finger was feeling.

How Is Travis Doing Today?

Although Travis’ health issues seem to be okay for the moment, he may have gotten a little too intense on the drums during a concert in Manchester, England in October. Minutes after the show ended, he went to his Instagram stories to show his bloodied hand.