Dean Winters Has Been In Constant Agony For 12 Years After Multiple Amputations

Dean Winters has revealed that he has been in constant pain since undergoing multiple amputations more than a decade ago.

Speaking to Page Six, the former "Oz" star said, "I haven't taken a step since 2009 without being in pain."

"I’ve got neuropathy on, you know, on a whole different level where I can't feel my hands and my feet. But if I stepped on a pebble, it's like I go through the roof," the 57-year-old actor explained.

In June 2009, Winters contracted a bacterial infection and went into cardiac arrest for over two minutes while being transported to the hospital in an ambulance. Paramedics revived him, but he suffered through multiple operations and got gangrene, which resulted in the amputation of two of his toes and half of a thumb.

According to the "30 Rock" alum, he has learned to live with the endless and daily discomfort.

"It's a very weird dichotomy. It's like, it's very hard to figure out. Nothing you can do about it," he explained. "I've been sucking it up because, you know, the alternative is not a place where I want to be."

Winters also recalled his memorable role as the character Mayhem in Allstate insurance commercials. He initially turned it down because he was in the hospital undergoing a 10th surgery but eventually decided to give in because the company was "relentless" about having him in its commercial.

He also noted that it was "crazy" that the Old English definition of the word "mayhem" is "one with amputations" in the Webster dictionary.

The insurance company is now reviving his Mayhem character. Aside from that, the actor also has several other projects in the works, including his holiday movie "Christmas vs. The Walters" with Paris Bravo, Shawnee Smith, Bruce Dern, Chris Elliott and Nate Torrence.

Despite what he is going through, Winters insisted that he is no Grinch when it comes to getting into the holiday spirit. According to the actor, he came from a big Scottish-Irish family that celebrated Christmas "a lot." While he is single with no kids, he has the rest of his family to rely on when it comes to holiday celebrations.

Winters will also be seen in the highly anticipated Peacock adaption of the Netflix docuseries "Tiger King" called "Joe Exotic," in which the actor plays Jeff Lowe, the bandanna-wearing, Las Vegas-loving businessman who partnered up with Joe Exotic.

"Christmas vs. The Walters" will be in theaters Friday. There's no word yet on when "Joe Exotic" premieres on Peacock.