Unable to get out of bed, Christina Applegate details debilitating health struggles, MS misdiagnosis and what she’s still living with
Mobility problems worsen
On Tuesday’s episode of the “MeSsy” podcast, which she co-hosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Applegate described severe difficulty moving after waking. She said it took ten minutes to get off her pillow, stand up and try to walk to the bathroom.
Applegate said she had never experienced mobility problems this severe and was previously able to sit up by herself. She described new pain and weakness, and said a walker is now next to her bed.
Doctors reconsider MS diagnosis
Last week, Applegate said a doctor told her she did not have multiple sclerosis, following five years in which she had spoken about her assumed diagnosis. She recalled that the news left her unhappy, even as others around her were glad.
Applegate said her symptoms had not improved and that she did not know what was causing them. She called the misdiagnosis a “mindf—k” on her podcast.
Further specialists planned
Applegate said her next step is to see a rheumatologist, a specialist in diseases affecting joints, muscles and bones. If that visit does not provide answers, she plans to consult other specialists.
She said traveling to medical offices can feel overwhelming, and she hopes to take the process one step at a time. Applegate also told the MS community she would continue speaking up for its members and still feels connected to them.
Key points
- Applegate says it took ten minutes to get out of bed and stand.
- She now keeps a walker beside her bed because of worsening mobility.
- Doctors told her she does not have MS after five years of assumed diagnosis.
- She plans to see a rheumatologist and may seek help from other specialists.