Rock star Jesse Malin reveals stroke left him paralyzed: 'It's going to take a lot of work'

Rock star Jesse Malin is revealing he suffered a rare spinal stroke last month that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

The musician, who opened up about his health in a Rolling Stone interview published Wednesday, said he was having dinner with friends in New York's East Village neighborhood on May 4 when he felt a burning pain in his back. The sensation moved through his hips and into his legs and heels, and he collapsed.

"Everybody was standing above me like in 'Rosemary’s Baby,' saying all these different things, and I was there not knowing what was going on with my body," Malin told Rolling Stone.

After his stroke, the rock star was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital and has begun physical therapy.

"This is the hardest six weeks that I’ve ever had," Malin said. "I'm told that (doctors) don’t really understand it, and they’re not sure of the chances. The reports from the doctors have been tough, and there’s moments in the day where you want to cry, and where you’re scared."

"Just laying here and not being able to walk, it’s very humbling," he said.

The artist said he stays hopeful that he'll make a full recovery. "I keep saying to myself that I can make this happen. I can recover my body," he said. Nevertheless, he knows the process may take time.

"Even though I really believe it’s a temporary state, I’m not going to walk out of here tomorrow with a leather jacket and a cane and go hang out at the bar. It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of being in a wheelchair," he said.

Malin joined the glam punk band D Generation in the early '90s. He went on to release nine studio albums which included collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Adams.

In the U.S., there are more than 795,000 stroke victims a year, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The acronym B.E. F.A.S.T. was created by health care officials who have researched the warning signs, symptoms and potential treatments for people who may have had a stroke. It is meant to help educate people to detect the symptoms. It stands for: B-alance difficulty, E-yesight changes. F-acial drooping, A-rm weakness, S-peech difficulty, T-ime to call 911.

Contributing: Janet Loehrke

Stroke Awareness Month: Graphics explain the warning signs.