India, Aug. 19 -- Hayden Panettiere's sudden death at 36 has brought renewed attention to the health problems she faced in the months before she died. The Heroes and Nashville actress had spoken publicly about a frightening period when she suddenly lost feeling in her lower body and struggled to walk, while a longtime friend has now described her earlier back pain as "really severe."

Panettiere died on August 16 in Greenville, South Caroline, after emergency responders found her unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. The Greenville County Coroner's office has said an autopsy report found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, but the official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional testing. ...