Tom Selleck’s Secret Suffering Over Arthritis

Tom Selleck is savoring a late-career high point with "Blue Bloods" — but the actor is secretly battling the pain and suffering of crippling arthritis!

“Tom’s been to doctors, and learned techniques to alleviate the pain, but it’s a disease that isn’t going to go away,” The National ENQUIRER heard from an insider. “He’s learning to adjust to it as best he can.”

The chronic disease, coupled with his failing sight, has brought him in a “lot of pain and agony,” one source said. The pain is sometimes so bad Tom can’t do his own stunts on “Blue Bloods,” forcing a double to step in. The mustachioed star also sometimes has to film scenes sitting down, and easily can get winded from exertion.

“Tom’s days as the car-jumping, scuba-diving action star are a thing of the past,” tattles an insider. “Like most stars, there’s a stunt double for dangerous action shots, but Tom even uses the guy for simple scenes, like getting out of the police car.

“His arthritis bothers him more some days than others. But Tom is an old-school, true professional, so he never complains about the pain. He’s got a great sense of humor, and even jokes with the young actors and crew that he’s not ‘Magnum, P.I.’ any- more!”

Still, a source added, “Tom’s a trouper, and he’s putting on a brave face. It’s painful for others to watch him. Even when he retires, this is something he’s going to need to manage. Until then, he’s just going to get through it in his usual macho fashion!”