Case closed! Doctors looked for a problem in Dick Van Dyke‘s brain when he complained of head pain in April, but as it turns out, they should have been looking in his mouth. On Thursday, May 30, the 87-year-old Diagnosis: Murder actor revealed on Twitter that his mystery illness — previously described by his rep as a neurological problem — was actually a side effect from some earlier dental work.
“It seems that my titanium dental implants are the cause of my head pounding,” he tweeted. “Has anyone else experienced this?”
Van Dyke’s health woes first came to light when he was forced to cancel an April 26 appearance at the 92nd Street Y in New York City because of “fatigue and lack of sleep resulting from symptoms of a yet-to-be diagnosed neurological disorder.” In a statement to USA TODAY, his rep said that tests and scans were inconclusive about the cause of the condition.
“Various medications have not diminished the symptoms,” the rep explained. “Until there is a specific diagnosis and treatment plan, he is advised against travel by flight and is resting at home in Malibu.
Van Dyke himself spoke out about the pain on Twitter. “My head bangs every time I lay down,” he wrote. “I’ve had every test come back that I’m perfectly healthy. Anybody got any ideas?”
A source told Us Weekly at the time that the legendary entertainer was in good spirits, despite his mystery illness. “He’s really fine. He’s up and about and doing well,” the insider said. “He’s been having some headaches and they are trying to figure out the cause, but he’s doing okay.”
