Molly Meldrum celebrates 73rd birthday while preparing for spinal surgery in Bangkok

AUSSIE music icon Molly Meldrum has spent his 73rd birthday preparing for spinal surgery in Bangkok after his most recent fall.

MOLLY Meldrum has celebrated his 73rd birthday in Thailand.

However the music icon is preparing for imminent back surgery after an accident earlier this week.

“Finding out you need spinal surgery isn’t the best birthday present but I’m in good hands,” Meldrum said. “I’m still in pain but everyone’s doing their best.”

Meldrum spent his birthday recovering at a hotel surrounded by friends and with medical staff on hand.

His doctors from Melbourne are liaising with Bangkok surgeons about the delicate operation, which is expected to take place this weekend at a local hospital.

Meldrum dislocated his shoulder and broke three ribs in the accident.

MORE: How Molly Meldrum fell in Thailand

Molly Meldrum was all smiles for his birthday in Bangkok.

The music guru was outside his hotel when the incident happened.

“Suddenly this tuk tuk sort of veered towards me,” Meldrum said.

“I took a step back and hit the footpath and fell in the gutter. I fell on my right hand side, dislocating my shoulder and broke four ribs and crushed a bit of my spine.”

Meldrum said earlier this week the pain was “excruciating” and he was having difficulty walking and has been using a wheelchair.

“The moment I lie on a bed I have real difficulty getting up, the pain in my back and ribs and spine is like a sword going through me, no matter how many painkillers I’ve had.”

His back was severely injured after falling off his roof in 2011.

That fall left Meldrum in an induced coma with doctors praising his fighting spirit to survive the horrific injuries to his brain and bones.

The TV star went to Bangkok to escape the hype surrounding Channel 7’s Molly mini-series which airs in early February.

Actor Samuel Johnson plays Meldrum in her mini-series, which includes a re-enactment of the roof fall.

“That was hard to watch,” Meldrum said last month. “I had to turn away.”

Meldrum and Johnson watched the mini series together, with both finding he experience surreal.

However any chance of returning home is on hold until doctors give him the all clear to come home.

Prior to the accident Meldrum added to his ink tally with a tattoo of his beloved Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen in his left arm.

“I was going to get my St Kilda and Melbourne Storm tattoos on my right arm touched up, but that’s out of the question now,” Meldrum said earlier this week. “I’m going through enough pain now as it is without that on top.”

Originally published as Molly Meldrum celebrates 73rd birthday while preparing for spinal surgery in Bangkok