In a May 2023 interview with “Good Morning America,” Christina Applegate, known for her roles in “Anchorman” and “The Sweetest Thing,” revealed that she overlooked the early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) before being diagnosed with the disease in 2021.
PHOTO Courtesy | Jordan Strauss/AP Photo
Applegate, aged 51, shared that living with MS poses challenges in everyday activities, such as showering, which can be daunting and potentially hazardous.
She expressed that tasks like descending stairs and carrying items, once taken for granted, have become difficult or impossible due to the disease.
Christina Applegate Early Signs of MS
Both Applegate and Blair noticed symptoms like numbness and tingling in their extremities years before linking them to MS.
Multiple sclerosis, a condition where the immune system attacks the protective coating around nerve fibers in the central nervous system, disrupts signal processing in the brain.
It tends to affect women more than men and typically appears in younger individuals. Approximately 1 million Americans live with this disease.
Early signs of MS vary but may begin with painful inflammation of the optic nerve known as optic neuritis, leading to blurred vision.
Other initial symptoms include weakness hindering daily tasks, tingling or loss of sensation in the hands causing clumsiness, coordination difficulties while walking, experiencing an “MS hug” sensation of torso compression, and a pervasive sense of fatigue.
Christina Applegate Diagnosing MS
People with MS often attribute their symptoms to other, less serious conditions, such as mistaking weakness or hand pain for carpal tunnel syndrome or connecting MS-related pain to a pinched nerve from sleeping awkwardly.
Many individuals live with MS for years before receiving a diagnosis.
A key indicator that a symptom may be linked to MS is its progression and fluctuation.
While it’s common to experience temporary numbness or tingling that resolves within hours or a day, MS-related symptoms tend to worsen over time, persist for weeks, and then subside for extended periods before recurring.
Additionally, the appearance of these symptoms in individuals in their 20s, 30s, or 40s can be indicative.
Diagnosing MS has become more efficient. Previously, multiple MRIs were necessary to track changes over time. Today, doctors can diagnose MS based on a single MRI scan of the brain and spinal cord.
Christina Applegate Podcast About Her MS Experience
In March, Christina launched a new podcast named MeSsy alongside her friend Jamie-Lynn Sigler, known for her role in “The Sopranos,” who also lives with MS. Described as a platform for self-reflection, learning, laughter, and growth, the series will showcase candid and often humorous conversations between the hosts, as well as with friends, colleagues, and supporters who navigate life’s challenges alongside them. Guests will include former co-stars like Martin Short and Edie Falco.
Christina revealed to People that her connection with Jamie-Lynn, who has battled MS for two decades, originated from a recommendation by mutual friend Lance Bass.
Since their initial contact, the two have maintained a continuous dialogue, exchanging insights and support.
“I wanted to provide her with tools and insights that have benefited me,” Jamie-Lynn, aged 42, told the outlet.
“We’d spend hours on the phone, laughing and crying, realizing how helpful our conversations were. We decided to record them and share them,” Christina added.
Despite both hosts living with MS, Jamie-Lynn emphasized that the podcast’s focus extends beyond their chronic condition. “It’s not solely about our individual experiences,” she stated. “It’s about confronting adversity and finding ways to persevere.”
Christina Applegate MS Relapse in April 2024
During an April 2024 episode of her podcast MeSsy, Christina disclosed her struggles with a “fairly severe” relapse. (Her publicist later informed People that the episode had been recorded months ago, and Christina was no longer experiencing a relapse.)
Her symptoms included “severe pain” in her legs, and the sensation of “almost falling” while walking to the bathroom.
Due to the discomfort in her legs and poor circulation, Christina mentioned that she hadn’t showered in three weeks at the time of recording. The symptoms proved particularly challenging for Christina after returning from a vacation that initially felt like a “victory.”
“I need to invest in Cottonelle, because I haven’t taken a shower in three weeks because I can’t stand in my shower,” she remarked. “There is absolutely no way I can stand in my shower.”
“My legs have never felt this bad,” she added. “I don’t understand—no energy, legs are just done, circulation is poor. I can’t alleviate the pain.”
Christina also revealed her struggles to sleep due to the relapse affecting one of her eyes.
“I’ve been awake for 24 hours because my eye is acting strangely, where whenever I close my eyes to sleep, my right eye starts moving,” she noted.
The actress acknowledged grappling with depression, further exacerbated by the relapse. “Then you engage in all the wrong activities, and you simply lie in a dark room watching TV, wishing it would all vanish. And that’s where I am right now,” she expressed.
Moreover, Christina explained how MS has impacted her parenting. She shared that her daughter, Sadie, 12, is grieving the loss of Christina’s previous parenting style.
“Dancing together every day. Picking her up from school every day. Volunteering at her school, working in the library. Being actively present outside the home, outside of my bed.
She doesn’t witness those things anymore,” Christina remarked. “We’re both navigating this journey as we move forward.”
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