Christina Applegate had been coping with severe symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (MS) for six years, but she recently learned she does not have the disease. This news came as a shock during her return to the MeSsy podcast on Tuesday, October 20, after a seven-month break. The 54-year-old actress shared her distress as she explained that her health has continued to decline, regardless of the misdiagnosis. Applegate expressed that she feels like she is starting over in her search for answers.
Now, Applegate is working with her medical team to thoroughly investigate her health history. They will review her medical records from as far back as 2021 to gather information on what led to her original diagnosis. MS affects the central nervous system, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective layer surrounding nerve fibers. Symptoms can differ greatly among individuals, but they often include muscle weakness, vision issues, numbness, difficulties with memory and concentration, and fatigue. In some cases, symptoms can worsen temporarily due to factors such as heat, exercise, or stress.
On her podcast, which she co-hosts with actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Applegate noted that her doctors are diving deep into her health issues to understand why her diagnosis changed. She mentioned that they plan to conduct an online investigation to uncover the developments in her condition since 2021 and the reasons behind the misdiagnosis. Christina’s doctors are also considering other possible causes for her symptoms, including inflammatory conditions that may be affecting her central nervous system. She specifically mentioned that rheumatoid arthritis is one of the conditions being examined.
Currently, Applegate does not have a clear reason for the ongoing physical challenges she faces. She first publicly shared her MS diagnosis in 2021 after experiencing neurological symptoms that impacted her mobility. At that time, she reported tingling sensations in her toes that eventually spread to her lower body. While filming for Netflix’s Dead to Me, she experienced issues with her legs and needed a wheelchair on set. Over the years, she has openly discussed her struggles with numbness, pain, balance issues, and walking difficulties.
Applegate has also talked about how her health has affected her career, including how she appeared at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards with a cane. However, discovering that she does not have MS did not bring the relief she had hoped for. She pointed out that being misdiagnosed does not mean she suddenly feels better, stating that her condition has, in fact, worsened. She mentioned needing a wheelchair for medical appointments because she struggles to walk from her car to the doctor’s office.
In the second part of the podcast episode, Applegate and Sigler were joined by Dr. Marwa Kaisey, a neurology associate professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The neurologist explained that diagnosing MS can be challenging since there is no single test for the disease. What are your thoughts on Applegate’s journey and her search for answers?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Rocio Corsi