Christina Applegate Says She No Longer Has MS
Qwenews.com – Christina Applegate, a leading MS advocate, says new medical testing has changed the diagnosis she had lived with since 2021. Doctors recently told the actor that she does not have multiple sclerosis, a conclusion that has brought uncertainty rather than relief because the symptoms disrupting her life remain unresolved.
Applegate discussed the news on “MeSsy,” the podcast she co-hosts with Jamie Lynn Sigler, who also has multiple sclerosis. Sigler had hosted the program by herself for seven months while Applegate dealt with worsening health problems.
“It’s hard to say, but she came into my room and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS.’”
Symptoms Have Not Gone Away
For years, Applegate believed MS explained numbness and tingling in her limbs, balance and coordination problems, and difficulty walking. Although more recent testing ruled out MS, she said her physical condition has not improved.
“I haven’t gotten better, Jamie! If anything, I’ve gotten worse. So I’m back at square one where I don’t know what’s going on with me.”
Earlier this year, Applegate said she had been spending much of her time in bed because she felt so unwell. She continues to use wheelchairs for medical appointments because walking from the car to the examination room can be difficult. Her doctors are still investigating what has caused her symptoms and why the original diagnosis was made.
Why an MS Diagnosis Can Be Reconsidered
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Its symptoms can overlap with those of other neurological and medical conditions, which means clinicians generally consider a patient’s history, symptoms, imaging and additional testing before confirming a diagnosis.
On the podcast, Christina Applegate, a leading MS advocate, and Sigler spoke with Dr. Marwa Kaisey, an associate professor in the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center department of neurology. Kaisey co-authored research examining MS misdiagnosis among people referred to two academic centers.
The research found that nearly one in five people referred with an MS diagnosis did not fully meet the criteria for the disease and were more likely to have another diagnosis. Kaisey said doctors must balance the value of early treatment with the need to ensure patients receive an accurate answer.
“We’re so eager to get people diagnosed because we know that the earlier we start them on treatment the better they’re going to do decades from then. But at the same time we have to be really careful to give them the accurate diagnosis.”
A Difficult New Chapter for Applegate
Applegate’s health became increasingly visible while she worked on the final season of Netflix’s “Dead to Me,” which ended in November 2022. She has spoken publicly about depression, loss, reduced independence and the effect illness has had on her career.
As Christina Applegate, a leading MS advocate, she became a prominent public voice for people living with the disease. The revised diagnosis does not erase that experience, but it changes the medical question she and her doctors now need to answer. For Applegate, the result is not a straightforward recovery; it is the beginning of another search for clarity.
FAQ: What a Changed MS Diagnosis Can Mean
Does ruling out MS mean a person’s symptoms are not real?
No. A revised diagnosis does not make symptoms less serious. It means doctors need to continue evaluating what condition may be causing them and what care may help.
Why might someone receive an MS diagnosis and later learn it was incorrect?
MS symptoms can resemble those caused by other conditions. New testing, a review of earlier scans, changes in symptoms or additional specialist evaluation can lead clinicians to reconsider a diagnosis.
What should patients do if they are concerned about an MS diagnosis?
Patients can discuss their concerns with their treating clinician, ask how the diagnosis was determined and consider whether a neurological specialist or second opinion is appropriate for their situation.