Actress Christina Applegate announced on October 20 that she had been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition she had been told she had since 2012. The Emmy-nominated star, known for her role on the sitcom Married... With Children (1987–1997), revealed the update during an episode of her podcast, MeSsy.
Despite the correction to her diagnosis, Applegate said she continues to experience severe symptoms, including difficulty walking, balance issues, lack of coordination, and numbness in her extremities. She described the news of the misdiagnosis as leaving her “back at square one,” as it removed the framework of understanding and treatment she had relied on for years.
“You don’t get misdiagnosed and then all of a sudden I’m better,” Applegate told her co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who has lived with MS for over 20 years. Sigler had been hosting the podcast alone for several months while Applegate was dealing with health complications, including an extended hospital stay.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune neurodegenerative disease affecting nearly three million people worldwide. It is known for symptoms that can vary widely and be difficult to diagnose accurately. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 20% of MS diagnoses are later found to be incorrect.
Applegate said learning that she does not have MS has introduced new challenges, as she must now seek other explanations for her ongoing health issues. “It’s hard to say, but she came into my room and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS,’” Applegate recalled. “I was like, not happy at all.” She emphasized that her physical condition remains severe, noting that she still requires a wheelchair for trips to the doctor’s office and struggles to walk even short distances.
The actress’s experience highlights the complexities of diagnosing neurological diseases and the impact that uncertain diagnoses can have on patients. While the misdiagnosis has been overturned, Applegate continues to navigate significant mobility challenges and the search for a definitive explanation for her symptoms.