Last fall, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine underwent surgery for stenosis, a neck and spine condition that he says was caused by years of headbanging.

The surgery was necessary to avoid further risk of injury – or even permanent damage.

On Saturday, Mustaine updated fans on his condition with the following tweet:

"Got my 6 mos. X-rays 3/30/12 on my neck. Totally fused, and I can FINALLY start exercising. Thank God, and thanks for your prayers."

Mustaine’s surgery followed closely after Megadeth’s slot opening for Metallica at the Big 4 show in Yankee Stadium.

Before the New York show, Dave talked about his pain and his plans to undergo neck surgery as soon as possible, keenly aware of the danger he was in.

“I was in a hospital yesterday morning, so I’m going home to get surgery right after this,” said Mustaine on the day of the show.

“It’s pretty bad; if I move wrong tonight, I could be paralyzed. We called yesterday and said we couldn’t make it, but then I thought about it.

I trust God, I know he’s got me in his hands, and I know that he hasn’t brought me this far, after all this adversity and done all this reconciliation with all the bands, and all of us getting along this well, to have the finale show here in the States stopped.

I just thought, either God’s everything or he’s nothing, and I believe in him and that’s why I’m here [to perform].”

Next month, MEGADETH head out on a two-week co-headlining tour with Rob Zombie, which kicks off May 11 in Holmdel, NJ.