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What is stiff-person syndrome as Celine Dion announces diagnosis?-Stella Akinwumi-Entertainment – Metro
The singer shared the news on Thursday.
Celine Dion shared the news on Thursday via social media (Picture: WireImage)
Celine Dion announced that she’ll be rescheduling her tour dates after being diagnosed with an incurable neurological condition.
The It’s All Coming Back to Me singer, 54, posted an emotional video on social media telling fans that she has been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, which is something the musician has been dealing with for a ‘long time.’
‘Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome which affects something like one in a million people,’ she explained in an Instagram video.
‘While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.’
The Grammy-winning singer was due to perform across Europe in March and April, including a date at London’s O2 Arena, and was due to continue until September.
These will now take place in spring 2024.
What is stiff-person syndrome?
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Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune movement disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord)
The condition ultimately leaves sufferers as ‘human statues’ as it progressively locks the body into rigid positions, leaving people unable to walk or talk.
As the disease progresses, patients sometimes become unable to walk or bend.
Interestingly, it affects twice as many women as men.
What are the symptoms of SPF?
The singer was forced to reschedule her tour dates (Picture: AFP)
Symptoms of stiff-person syndrome can take several months to a few years to develop. Some patients remain stable for years; others slowly worsen.
Symptoms include pain, muscle stiffness and aching.
Early on, stiffness may come and go but eventually, the stiffness remains constant. Over time, leg muscles become stiff and more muscles throughout your body become stiff including the arms and even the face.
How is it treated?
Celine thanked her fans for the support (Picture: Getty Images)
Treatments for SPS involve anti-anxiety drugs, muscle relaxants, anti-convulsants, and pain relievers, which improve the symptoms, but there is no cure.
In her Instagram video, Dion shared: ‘Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I’m used to.
‘It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.
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‘I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children who are supporting me and giving me help.’
The My Heart Will Go On megastar revealed that she has been ‘working hard’ with a sports medicine therapist to build her strength, but admitted ‘it’s been a struggle.
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