Three months ago, the Dallas Cowboys’ legendary quarterback, Troy Aikman, shared a painful story of the chronic back pain he is suffering. That painful revelation has roots in the 1993 NFL season.
While Aikman has openly discussed dealing with chronic back pain since his playing days, he has not said that’s the reason he’s undergoing Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE). Instead, the Hall of Fame quarterback has described the treatment as part of his broader health and longevity routine.
So first up, let’s talk about Aikman’s latest Instagram story, which gives a new health update and what the reason is behind his Therapeutic Plasma Exchange treatment. On July 22, Aikman posted an attention-grabbing photo of himself undergoing another Therapeutic Plasma Exchange on his Instagram story.
TPE, which is also called plasmapheresis, is a procedure that removes a person’s plasma and replaces it with donor plasma or another replacement fluid. It is used for several reasons, depending on the patient, such as autoimmune diseases, blood disorders, neurological disorders, and in some cases it has been considered as a preparation for an organ transplantation.
In a previous social media post, Aikman called TPE an “oil change” for your blood, explaining that it is designed to “reduce inflammation, slow the aging process, and support overall well-being.”
He receives the treatment at Next Health Montecito, a California wellness clinic founded by Dr. Darshan Shah. Although TPE is commonly used in hospitals to treat certain autoimmune and blood disorders, clinics like Next Health also offer it as a health optimization therapy aimed at promoting overall wellness and healthy aging.
Aikman has dealt with several health issues over the years, including chronic back pain caused by a herniated disc and degenerative changes in his lower back. He also successfully underwent surgery for Stage II melanoma in 1998 and has spoken about living with dry eye disease, which he partly attributes to years spent under bright broadcast studio lights. However, Aikman has never said he is undergoing Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) to treat any of these conditions.
Troy Aikman’s painful battle with chronic back pain
Aikman’s Hall of Fame career was defined by toughness, but the physical toll of those years has never truly gone away. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback has been living with chronic back pain since his playing days, an issue that began with a herniated disc in 1993.
Although surgery helped him return to the field, it did not provide a permanent solution. As the years passed, the pain gradually intensified, forcing Aikman to rely on epidural injections during the 2000 season just to continue playing.
Looking back on his career during an appearance on the Rodeo Time podcast earlier this year, Aikman revealed that the condition continues to affect him long after retirement.
“I still manage that [back issue],” he said. “I had back surgery right after our first Super Bowl. So, when I retired, I had a lower left facet joint that just deteriorated, and I was taking injections my last year to try to get on the field. And I still have to manage it. It’s a little better. I still deal with it, but surgery can’t help that.”
Aikman has previously explained that his back problems, rather than his well-documented concussion history, were the primary reason he decided to retire after the 2000 season at just 34 years old. “So, I’m just kind of stuck with it,” Aikman admitted in March 2026. “I do hot yoga… It seems that it’s helped give me a little bit more movement and help with some of the back pain.”
But despite stepping away from football more than two decades ago, the pain remains a part of his daily life. To manage it, the three-time Super Bowl champion has embraced lifestyle changes, including hot yoga, which he says has improved his mobility. As football fans, let’s pray for his good health.