KEY POINT
Kelly Ripa said she has ignored her bad knee despite discussing the problem publicly for years.
She explained that medical visits can make her nervous because another health issue could be discovered.
Her latest comments come after she underwent gum graft surgery following years of delaying the procedure.
Kelly Ripa opened up about her approach to health during the Aug. 31 episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, where co-host Mark Consuelos discussed the tendency to dismiss symptoms rather than seek medical advice.
Ripa responded by describing her own behavior as more extreme. She acknowledged that she tends to ignore health concerns until they become difficult to postpone, using her knee as a specific example.
The television host said her audience has heard her complain about her bad knee for years. Despite that history, she admitted that she has taken no action to address it.
When Ripa was asked what she had done about the knee problem, she answered simply: “Nothing.”
Ripa also explained why she has continued to put off medical attention. She said she worries that going to a doctor about one issue could lead to the discovery of another problem.
That concern has influenced the way she handles the knee complaint, leaving her to treat it as an irritation that might eventually go away rather than something requiring professional attention.
Her comments provide a direct explanation for why the issue has remained unresolved despite her awareness of it.
Ripa’s admission follows a separate health-related experience earlier this summer. She underwent gum graft surgery after delaying the procedure for several years.
She later said that an excessive brushing habit had contributed to her gum recession. The dental procedure also required her to temporarily step away from Live With Kelly and Mark while she recovered.
During that period, Consuelos provided updates about Ripa’s recovery and discussed restrictions associated with the procedure.
The knee remains untreated based on Ripa’s latest comments. Unlike her dental issue, which eventually resulted in surgery, she has not said that she plans to seek treatment for her knee.
Her remarks instead highlight her recognition that postponing health concerns has become a recurring habit.
Ripa’s comments are notable because they distinguish between knowing about a health problem and taking steps to address it. In the case of her knee, she has openly acknowledged the issue while continuing to avoid treatment.
The discussion also shows that her reluctance is not necessarily based on being unaware of symptoms; she specifically identified fear of discovering additional problems as a reason for avoiding medical care.
Ripa has not announced any treatment plans for her knee in the supplied source material. For now, the long-standing issue remains something she has acknowledged but has not addressed medically.
