Dr. Zoe Williams is opening up about the life-changing spinal surgery that kept her away from “This Morning” for several weeks.
The resident medical expert returned to the ITV daytime show on Thursday, March 6, where she spoke candidly with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about undergoing a major operation earlier this year to treat severe spinal stenosis — a condition that compresses the nerves in the spine and can cause significant pain.
Williams Is Happy to Be Back
After her return to the show, she shared a series of images to social media and noted that it was “so good to be back.”
Now on the road to recovery, Williams said she didn’t fully realize how much the condition had been affecting her until the pain was gone.
“I’m feeling great,” the 45-year-old said during her appearance per the Daily Mail. “I think you only realise how debilitating chronic pain is when you don’t have it anymore. I feel lighter, I feel wonderful.”
The TV doctor revealed that the procedure took place in January and required open surgery to relieve the pressure on her spinal nerves.
Despite the seriousness of the operation, she said she was able to leave the hospital surprisingly quickly.
“With the surgery that I had, it was an open surgery, quite a big procedure, but I actually walked out of the hospital the same day,” she explained. “The next day, when I got out of bed, was the first time that I’ve been able to stand fully straight for a long time, which felt great.”
Still, the recovery process has not been without challenges.
Williams, who shares 4-year-old son Lisbon with partner Stuart McKay, admitted the weeks following the surgery were frustrating as she had to rely heavily on help from others.
“It’s frustrating as well,” she said. “I couldn’t do childcare; I was dependent upon my partner for everything. That’s frustrating, and for somebody like me, that was really difficult, not being able to exercise.”
It Has Been a Long Road to Recovery
Rather than dwell on the limitations, however, Williams said she tried to change her perspective during her time off.
“I shifted my mindset,” she said. “I thought, when do you get the opportunity to sit at home for four weeks off work without anyone demanding anything and people have to do things for you? You don’t have a choice.”
Before the operation, the Williams had documented her health journey with followers on social media.
In one update shared shortly after the procedure, she posted a photo of herself recovering at home and wrote, “I’m home and comfortable after my back surgery this afternoon. Will share lots more in the coming days.”
Williams had previously explained that the surgery involved removing overgrown ligaments and bone that had developed due to degenerative changes in her spine — structures that were pressing on the spinal canal and compressing the nerves.
She said surgery was ultimately a last resort after trying other treatments for more than two years.
Now back on “This Morning,” Williams said she’s grateful for the relief and hopeful about the next chapter of her recovery.
