Céline Dion’s Battle with Stiff-Person Syndrome
Legendary singer and songwriter Céline Dion has been dealing with a medical condition for the past year that has caused her to cancel and postpone performances. On Wednesday, she made an emotional announcement on social media that she had finally received a diagnosis for her condition – stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare but incurable neurological disorder. In her post, she said the condition has affected every aspect of her daily life, including walking and singing.
What is Stiff-Person Syndrome?
Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS) is an often misdiagnosed neurological disorder that causes severe muscle spasms in the legs, arms, and torso. SPS is caused by the body’s own immune system attacking nerves that control muscles, resulting in stiffness or spasms throughout the body. The spasms can be painful and can prevent people from being able to walk or perform other everyday tasks. There is no cure for SPS, although medication may help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
How Can We Help?
At this time, there is no known cause of SPS and very few treatments available for those who suffer from it. However, there are ways to help those living with SPS feel more comfortable in their bodies through physical therapy and lifestyle modifications such as nutrition plans and stress reduction techniques. There are also numerous support groups available online for those living with SPS as well as their family members and caregivers. Finally, research into better treatments for SPS continues around the world; donations to organizations like the National Organization for Rare Disorders can help fund much-needed research into this condition.
We are so inspired by Céline Dion’s strength in sharing her story about living with stiff-person syndrome with the world! Her courage gives us hope that one day soon we will see better treatments—and perhaps even a cure—for this debilitating condition so that people like Céline who suffer from it can live happier lives. In addition, we hope Céline’s story encourages others living with SPS to seek out support from family members, friends, healthcare providers, and online communities alike so they too can find comfort during these difficult times.
Legendary singer and songwriter Céline Dion has been dealing with a medical condition for the past year that has caused her to cancel and postpone performances. On Wednesday, she made an emotional announcement on social media that she had finally received a diagnosis for her condition – stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare but incurable neurological…
Legendary singer and songwriter Céline Dion has been dealing with a medical condition for the past year that has caused her to cancel and postpone performances. On Wednesday, she made an emotional announcement on social media that she had finally received a diagnosis for her condition – stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare but incurable neurological…