Actress Christina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a development that has left her searching for answers after years of debilitating symptoms and treatment.
Applegate, 54, shared the news during a recent episode of her “MeSsy” podcast, which she co-hosts with “The Sopranos” star Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who has also spoken publicly about living with MS.
Despite learning that she does not have the condition, Applegate said her physical difficulties remain unresolved, leaving her uncertain about what has been causing her health issues.
“It’s hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room, and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS,’” Applegate told Sigler. “I was, like, not happy at all; everybody else was so happy.”
“You don’t get misdiagnosed and then all of a sudden I’m better,” she continued. “I haven’t gotten better, Jamie. If anything, I’ve gotten worse in some ways.”
Applegate said a review of her current medical treatment eventually prompted further investigation into her diagnosis.
Her doctor ultimately informed her that she did not have MS, a revelation Applegate said was far more complicated emotionally than others might expect.
“I’m back at square one; I don’t know what’s going on with me,” she added.
Applegate explained that she still experiences significant mobility limitations and sometimes requires a wheelchair to attend medical appointments.
According to the Mayo Clinic, MS is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and central nervous system that can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibers.
Symptoms vary, but the most common ones include fatigue, numbness or weakness, dizziness, lack of coordination, and tingling throughout the body.
According to neurologist Dr. Marwa Kaisey, who discussed the issue on the podcast, there is no definitive test for MS.
Doctors generally assess a combination of symptoms, medical history, imaging results, and other clinical evidence while considering alternative explanations.
The “Married … with Children” star first announced her MS diagnosis in 2021 and has since spoken candidly about the impact of her symptoms on her personal life and professional career.
Over the years, Applegate, alongside Sigler, has helped raise awareness of the challenges faced by those living with chronic illness.
The most recent revelation has left her feeling like she was letting everybody down.
“It’s this weird feeling of like … I became this—you and I—the poster children for MS,” Applegate told Sigler.
“All that I did, everything I was doing. I had a reason. I had a … reason as to why my day sucked every day. Now I don’t have a reason, and it’s very unnerving, and it’s really confusing for me.”
On her podcast last year, Applegate said she had been hospitalized more than 30 times in the three years following her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, experiencing repeated bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain.
At the time, Applegate said she underwent numerous tests to determine the cause of her symptoms, which she suspected could be linked to digestive complications associated with MS.
Meanwhile, Sigler, 43, was also diagnosed with MS at 20 years old, keeping her illness and struggle hidden for more than a decade.
