Australian singer-songwriter Cody Simpson has revealed he is facing a potentially career-threatening vocal cord injury while recording new music.

The 28-year-old former swimmer shared the health update with fans on social media on Tuesday, admitting he had initially hoped to keep the ordeal private before deciding to open up about the difficult past month.

“Just over a month ago we discovered a serious haemorrhage on one of my vocal cords,” Simpson wrote on Facebook.

“It occurred due to my over-zealousness in the studio singing through a sinus infection I didn’t know I had.”

Simpson said he initially believed he was simply dealing with tiredness and continued recording despite worsening symptoms.

“Assumed it was just fatigue and kept showing up to the studio until one day I could no longer sing properly,” he said.

The injury has forced the Gold Coast-born performer to cancel promotional appearances for his latest single, while also delaying work on his upcoming album.

“I’ve now been on and off vocal rest for weeks, cancelling TV and radio performances for Baby Blue in the process,” he wrote.

“This has also affected my ability to complete the album and polish up the next singles.”

Doctors have now prescribed Simpson another two weeks of complete silence as he attempts to avoid surgery.

“I’ve just been prescribed another two weeks of silence in hopes of avoiding a surgery which demands a much longer recovery process,” he said.

Despite the setback, Simpson said he had returned to the studio and was continuing to write music without singing, instead working through melodies on guitar while collaborating silently with producers and songwriters.

“I’m back in the studio now writing strictly as a lyricist on mute with my collaborators, and hearing/writing my vocal melodies on my guitar (which I will eventually replace with my voice when I’m able to),” he wrote.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

The singer also hinted at releasing unfinished material while he is resting his voice, asking fans whether they would like him to begin sharing completed songs earlier than planned.

“I’d like to bring you on the journey,” Simpson said.

“I’ve been extremely up and down but am now reframing this as a realignment for the long-term good.

“In the meantime, should I start sharing some of what I’ve already finished?”

Fans and fellow musicians quickly flooded the comments with support, with several pointing out other major artists including Adele, Sam Smith and John Mayer had also battled vocal cord injuries before returning to the stage.

“You’ll come back stronger mate,” one fan wrote, while another added: “Your voice is worth protecting. Rest now so you can sing for decades to come.”