‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s Health Struggles Through the Years

Carrie Ann Inaba hasn’t always been able to score her health a 10.

While the Dancing With the Stars judge consistently brings positive energy, helpful feedback and pivotal scores to the ballroom every week on ABC’s hit reality show, Inaba has found herself experiencing some health struggles that have kept her sidelined during filming.

Ahead of the season 34 premiere on September 16, 2025, Inaba announced she wouldn’t be able to judge the first episode because she was feeling “quite under the weather.”

“I’m resting up and can’t wait to be back next week in good health,” she wrote via Instagram. “In the meantime, I wish all the contestants the very best of luck. I’ll be cheering you on from home. 🤍🙏 Have a great show everyone! 🪩💃🏻🕺🏻⭐️.”

Although additional details about Inaba’s health weren’t immediately available, the choreographer has been open about her health over the years.

Keep reading to learning more about what Inaba has faced away from the dance floor:

Carrie Ann Diagnosed With Spinal Stenosis

In the middle of judging Dancing With the Stars season 4 in 2007, Inaba was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.

“I think it started because I went from being a very active person to a non-active person,” Inaba told People in 2019. “I remember going to the doctor, and I couldn’t move my head. I was in excruciating pain for years.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal stenosis happens when the space inside the backbone is too small. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine.

Some people with the condition have no symptoms while others may experience pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness.

Carrie Ann Diagnosed With Sjӧgren’s Syndrome

Six years after learning she has spinal stenosis, Inaba was diagnosed with Sjӧgren’s syndrome, an incurable immune disorder that can cause pain and fatigue.

“It was debilitating,” Inaba shared with People. “I was in so much pain, I just had to survive. I had to stay in bed three days a week, and I’m so fortunate because I had the kind of job where I could do that. There were days I could barely make my coffee because I was so exhausted.”

The autoimmune disease makes your glands produce less moisture than they should, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It can also cause chronic dryness throughout one’s body, especially the eyes and mouth.

Inaba shared an update on her illness in April 2026.

“I look like, maybe I’m feeling fine,” she told People. “But I live with constant pain, constant dryness in my eyes and in my mouth, constant fatigue. Sjӧgren’s is always with me. It’s invisible, you can’t see it, but it’s always with me. I always have pain. I always have fatigue. It’s about how I manage that pain.”

Inaba said she’s “lost a lot of friendships” due to her illness because she doesn’t “have a lot of energy to give to another person.”

“As the years progressed, [there] was sadness,” she continued. “Because I recognize what I’m losing by having Sjogren’s disease.”

Inaba said she now schedules her life around her condition, allowing time to be “peaceful at home” between DWTS tapings.

“And then the day after, I schedule a quiet day,” she added. “It’s about how I manage that pain.”

Carrie Ann’s Experience With Lupus 

In a social media post from October 2023, Inana shared a glimpse into her life with a lupus diagnosis.

“After years of wondering why I felt the way I did, I now know that I live with lupus — an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the body and causes inflammation that over time can damage different parts of the body including the organs,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “I am proactive about trying to prevent my own lupus flares by taking rest and managing my stress levels, amongst other things.”

Inaba is part of the estimated 25 percent of people with lupus who also have fibromyalgia. It’s described by the Mayo Clinic as a long-term condition that involves widespread body pain.

How Carrie Ann Manages Her Illnesses 

In a candid post on her online wellness platform, The Carrie Ann Conversations, Inaba shared her mindset when it comes to coping with autoimmune conditions.

“When I first got diagnosed, some encouraged me to keep my struggles to myself, but I’ve found that it’s always been better to be honest about my needs and realities than to stay silent,” Inaba wrote. “I believe strongly in sharing my journey, my solutions and the things that have helped me with anyone who could use it — this is how communities are formed.”

In her post, Inaba shared some tools that help her personally to cope with her chronic illnesses,  but recommended to her followers that it is always best to work with a professional doctor when seeking medical advice.

Carrie Ann Inaba Hospitalized After Medical Emergency on Flight

Inaba was hospitalized in April 2026 after she had an in-flight medical emergency.

“Yesterday was quite a day. I was on my way to NY for something I am very passionate about. But had a small ‘medical emergency’ on the plane,” she wrote via Instagram. “I very suddenly felt quite ill. And while it seemed like food poisoning, I also suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, got dizzy and my arms went numb.”

Inaba continued, “Like many people who live with autoimmune disease, I travel with a health tool kit and am prepared for the worst, but this scared me. And while I was locked in the restroom, we were also experiencing turbulence and the flight attendants had been asked to sit in their seats as well. I didn’t want to have anyone else put themselves at risk … but when my arms went numb, it was time to ask for help.”

Inaba said she left the emergency room and went back to her hotel when she felt “stable enough.”

“I’m always thankful for the moments that scare or challenge me, especially with my health. They remind me that while I often face my health challenges alone, I am not alone. None of us are. The helpers are everywhere,” Inaba concluded.