'Duck Dynasty' Star's Health Takes a Turn for the Worse

Earlier this month, Duck Dynasty star Jase Robertson worried fans with a concerning health update around his father, patriarch Phil Robertson, revealing the elder is dealing with Alzheimer's. In a new interview, son Willie Robertson is clarifying just how bad his situation has gotten. 

Speaking with Fox News, Willie explained that Phil is "battling a lot of different things right now."

"He's got a blood disorder, and then he's got the mental issues that could be early [onset] Alzheimer's… and probably some mini-strokes because of his blood," Willie said of the 78-year-old hunter. "And so, it could be some stroke stuff happening, that has happened. So, we're still checking on all that. But then he also has a back issue, he's fractured his back and that's where the pain’s at. So, he's kind of battling many different things at the same time."

The back pain, Willie said, is the worst part for his dad. "Especially in any situation where he's getting up from the seated position or laying position, [it's] super stressful for him too, and very painful," he said. "We've got several other things we're looking at, trying some different medications. And, again, it's a little bit more difficult with the pain issue, with the back, because that seems to dominate a lot of just his day-to-day is just from that, so we’re trying to get his back fixed up so that he can at least move around."

Related: Redneck, Inc: The 'Duck Dynasty' Story

The detailed breakdown of his health issues comes after Phil purportedly rallied for a bit a few weeks ago. 

"The outpouring of love, of support, of prayer just has almost been overwhelming for me," son Alan Robertson said in the Dec. 9 episode of the brothers' podcast Unashamed with The Robertson Family. In the few days between when they filmed the episode revealing the extent of his health issues and when the episode went live, their father seemingly was on the up and up. 

"During that little transition time [between filming and airing], Phil had a little bit of a reprieve from, you know, his pain," Jase said. "Although his overall conditions remain the same, he just felt better."

"He had a little reprieve from the pain and I really feel like it was just the prayers," Jase continued. "Because, you know, for months, he's been on a downward decline."

Duck Dynasty is available to stream on Hulu, Tubi, A&E, and more.