Celebs With Multiple Sclerosis: Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, & More

Christina Applegate has become the latest celebrity to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The ‘Dead to Me’ actress revealed the difficult news on Aug. 10, sharing via Twitter that she was diagnosed with the disease months prior. “It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition,” she said. Christina did not reveal the extent of her symptoms of MS, an autoimmune disease which causes the body to eat away at its own nerve tissue. MS is known to sometimes lead to pain, fatigue, vision issues and impaired coordination, and there is sadly no cure for the the disease, though there are ways for patients to treat their symptoms and pain. 

Related: Christina Applegate Then & Now: See Photos Of The Actress Over The Years

Selma Blair has had a notoriously difficult battle with MS. The ‘Legally Blonde’ actress revealed her diagnosis in Aug. 2018. Her illness worsened over the years, and she eventually was unable to fully speak and had to start walking with a cane. However, Selma underwent a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy, which helped improve her condition. In July 2021, she was able to go horseback riding which, as she said, was “a huge deal” to her amid her health struggles.

Related: Selma Blair Through The Years

Country music superstar Clay Walker was diagnosed with MS in 1996. Clay was told at the time that he’d live his life in a wheelchair, but his symptoms did not get that severe. He has, however, experienced occassional debility in his legs and arms at times. Since his diagnosis, Clay has been heavily involved in charities related to raising awareness of MS. He even founded his own non-profit charity, Band Against MS.

‘Sopranos’ darling Jamie-Lynn Sigler was diagnosed with MS in 2002 when she was 20 years old, though she didn’t announce it publicly until 2016. At the time of her diagnosis, Jamie-Lynn was experiencing numbness, tingling and heaviness in her legs. She still experiences occassional symptoms and struggles with the emotional toll of the disease, but did say in a 2019 interview with ‘Today’ that she was “doing very well.” 

Jack Osbourne shared the news of his MS diagnosis in 2012 when he was 26 years old. He was experiencing symptoms for several years, including blindness in one eye, numbness in both legs and issues with his bladder and stomach. Jack has undergone numerous treatments, including hormone replacement therapy and Copaxone medicine. In March 2021, he told PEOPLE magazine that he hadn’t had any MS flare ups “in a long time.”

Related: Jack Osbourne & His Wife Lisa Stelly: Photos From Their Romance

Beloved talk show host Montel Williams learned he had MS in 1999 after he began to experience vision problems and had extreme pain in his legs. His symptoms have come and gone over the years, and Montel has dedicated his life towards MS awareness. He founded the nonprofit MS Foundation and has been publicly in favor of legalizing cannabis to treat MS. He’s also said that snowboarding has been a great therapy for dealing with MS. 

Actress Teri Garr had kept her MS diagnosis under wraps for years until she confirmed it in 2002. She’s said that she first noticed symptoms in the early '80s when she was filming ‘Tootsies,’ though it took some time until she learned she had the disease. Teri currently experiences a limp that makes walking difficult. But she’s been determined to fight back against the illness, and works towards doing just that as a National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her treatment for the disease has included steroid injections.

This article originally appeared on Hollywood Life and is syndicated by Cheapism.