GEORGE CLOONEY - CLOONEY'S ER ROLE PROMPTED WORRIES OVER BACK CONDITION

GEORGE CLOONEY was relieved when he learned he'd damaged his spinal chord - because his years on hit medical drama ER led him to fear he was suffering something far worse.

The OCEAN'S ELEVEN star is still experiencing headaches and short-term memory loss after damaging the protective membrane surrounding his spinal chord.

But Clooney admits playing a doctor did little to alleviate his fears before the verdict came in.

He says, "There was spinal fluid coming out of my nose. I thought I had a sinus infection at first.

"(My condition) is not life-threatening. I was on a hospital show for five years, so you do actually start to think you're a doctor. I'm like, 'I remember the guy with the headache - that guy had a brain tumour.'

"So, of all the options, it was by far the best. It's been a long year."