Applegate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while working on the third season of Netflix's "Dead to Me," and she shared news of her diagnosis in 2021. She reflected on "Armchair Expert" that her battle with MS is for "life" and that she isn't sure whether she'll be "around" in 10 years.

What were Christina Applegate's signs of MS?

April 2024: Christina Applegate reveals her MS has relapsed.

She described experiencing "intense pain in my legs, not being able to to walk to the bathroom without feeling like I'm going to fall, insane tingling that just has spurts of tingles that are weird coming from my butt down."

What is multiple sclerosis life expectancy?

Many people with MS live for as long as the general population. Studies on the effect of MS on life expectancy have been carried out in several countries. The results from these studies suggest that, on average, having MS reduces your life expectancy by six to seven years.

What are usually the first signs of MS?

How long does MS take to disable you?

The truth is that 15 years after the onset of MS, only about 20% of patients are bedridden or institutionalized. Another 20% may require a wheelchair, or use crutches, or a cane to ambulate, but fully 60% will be ambulatory without assistance and some will have little deficit at all.

Christina Applegate Gets Candid On Living With Multiple Sclerosis

Has anyone ever fully recovered from MS?

MS is not considered curable. But different types of medicine are available to decrease inflammation and slow down the progression of the disease.

What is end stage MS like?

Vision problems, including blurriness or blindness. Muscle weakness. Difficulty with coordination and balance. Problems with walking and standing.

At what age does MS usually start?

MS can appear at any age but most commonly manifests between the ages of 20 and 40. It affects women two to three times as often as men. Almost one million people in the United States have MS, making it one of the most common causes of neurological disability among young adults in North America.

Can you have MS for years and not know it?

A person will only receive a diagnosis of benign MS if they have been without severe disabling symptoms of the disease for 15 years. However, this does not mean that a person cannot experience a relapse after this time and see their disease progress into a more severe form.

Is MS classed as a terminal illness?

So is MS a terminal illness? No, it isn't classed as a terminal illness. It is a life long condition because there is no cure so far. It is a condition where treatments exist but where much better treatments are needed.

Does MS come on suddenly?

In addition, the timing of symptoms — how quickly they appear — can help your doctor determine whether MS or something else is the cause. For example, the early symptoms of MS are subacute, meaning they don't come on as suddenly as stroke symptoms, and they don't slowly worsen over time.

How can I test myself for MS?

People cannot give themselves a diagnosis of MS. However, they may suspect they have MS based on certain symptoms.

What happens to eyes with MS?

MS can also have an effect on parts of your brain that control how your eyes move. This can cause symptoms of double vision or wobbly vision. Around 1 in every 3 people with MS at some point find their eyes don't move as they should. These effects can be so small that your vision isn't affected.

What symptoms did Applegate ignore?

From tingling toes to mobility struggles that necessitated a wheelchair on set, Applegate's journey to diagnosis was marked by denial and dismissal of early warning signs. She recalled moments of unexpected weakness during filming, attributing them to fatigue or dehydration.

What MS legs feel like?

Tightness or stiffness of the muscles, called spasticity, is caused directly by MS. Spasticity will alter walking and cause pulling on the joints. This can result in pain typically in the ankles, knees, hips and back. Also, a fall because of muscle weakness can cause injury and pain.

Why do people with MS get heavy?

The muscle weakness that you are feeling can be directly linked to MS because the damage to your nerves can disrupt signals to the muscles. This nerve damage makes it hard to move your muscles and leads to a heavy feeling in your legs (or other areas of your body).

What is life expectancy with MS?

Average life span of 25 to 35 years after the diagnosis of MS is made are often stated. Some of the most common causes of death in MS patients are secondary complications resulting from immobility, chronic urinary tract infections, compromised swallowing and breathing.

What are the first signs of MS in a woman?

What does MS feel like in the beginning?

MS causes symptoms like double vision, numbness and tingling, trouble walking, and tiredness. These symptoms can lead to other problems, such as urinary tract infections, weak muscles and bones, and relationship problems. See your primary care doctor if you have symptoms of MS.

What happens if MS is left untreated?

“If left untreated, MS tends to become progressive, which means that people slowly get worse over many years. That is something we want to avoid.” Though a few decades ago there were no helpful treatments for MS, that's changed and doctors now have many more tools to offer.

Is life worth living with MS?

However, this depends on the type of MS and the treatment they receive. Around 1% of people will have a rapidly progressing type of MS that is more likely to lead to severe symptoms in a relatively short space of time. Most people can enjoy a good quality of life with MS, especially if they have appropriate support.

Is MS a terminal condition?

MS itself is rarely fatal, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties. The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time.