Christina Applegate Details Agonizing Daily Struggle Amidst MS Misdiagnosis

Christina Applegate has shared a harrowing account of the ongoing physical toll she experiences, stating that it now takes her 10 minutes simply to move from her pillow and get out of bed. The revelation comes after the actress tearfully disclosed on her podcast that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Applegate, who announced her MS diagnosis in the summer of 2021, explained that her health has not improved, but rather worsened, leaving her feeling like she is "back at square one." She described the intense pain and weakness she endures, noting that she now relies on a walker next to her bed.

"I actually timed it today. It took me 10 minutes to be able to move off my pillow and get out of the bed and stand up, at which point I almost couldn’t walk to the bathroom," Applegate said on a recent episode of her podcast, 'Messy,' which she co-hosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who also lives with MS.

She recounted the moment her doctor informed her of the misdiagnosis, sharing, "She came into my room and said, 'Congratulations, you don’t have MS.' I was, like, not happy at all. Everybody else was so happy." Applegate emphasized that the news did not lead to an immediate recovery, stating, "I haven’t gotten better, Jamie! If anything, I’ve gotten worse."

MS is a chronic, often disabling disease for which there is no cure. It affects the brain and spinal cord, with symptoms ranging from fatigue and difficulty walking to vision problems and cognitive challenges. Applegate has previously spoken about the profound impact the illness, and now the uncertainty surrounding her health, has had on her life, including significant depression and the loss of her acting career.

"I lost everything. I lost my job," she stated, expressing her confusion and distress over living with severe symptoms for years without a definitive diagnosis. "I became this – you and I, the poster children for MS. And everything I was doing. I had a reason. I had a f***ing reason as to why my day sucked every day. And now I don’t have a reason and it’s very unnerving and it’s very confusing for me."

Applegate described the situation as a "mindf**k" and that she remains in "a state of shock" as her doctors investigate the true nature of her condition. She noted that she experiences "every symptom of someone with MS" and acknowledged that many other conditions can mimic MS symptoms. She also shared concerns that people might perceive her as seeking attention, saying, "I'm sure people are saying like, 'Crybaby, you don't have MS.' You know, that's a good thing. But no, no, no."

According to Dr. Marwa Kaisey, an associate professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, MS can be difficult to diagnose as there isn't a single definitive test. Kaisey noted on the podcast that approximately one in five individuals diagnosed with MS may not actually have the condition, with many having received treatment for years.

Applegate had been hospitalized multiple times since her initial MS diagnosis in 2021, with reports surfacing in March of her being admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for an extended period. She returned home in August, with sources indicating she was doing well. Throughout her health journey, Applegate has been candid about her struggles, including relying on a wheelchair and cane, and confining herself to bed due to exhaustion and pain.