Christina Applegate Says Her MS Diagnosis Was Wrong: "I Don't Have a Reason"

Christina Applegate is starting a new chapter in her health journey, and it’s not the one anyone expected. On the October 20 episode of her“MeSsy”podcast, the actress revealed that her doctor recently told her she does not have multiple sclerosis, the diagnosis she first shared publicly in 2021. Instead of relief, she felt stunned, because the symptoms she’s been living with haven’t gone anywhere.

She told listeners she’s launching a new medical investigation next week to find out what has actually been affecting her body all this time. Her symptoms have not improved and may even have worsened since 2021, and she’s continuing physical therapy three times a week while the process starts. Dr. Marwa Kaisey, an associate professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai, joined the episode and explained that MS has no single definitive test, which is why misdiagnosis happens more often than most people realize. Nearly one in five people told they have MS don’t actually have it.

Applegate also got emotional about her public role, saying“I became the poster child for MS. And now I don’t have a reason.”She said she feels like she let people down, but her openness is exactly what makes her story matter. Have you ever had to fight for a correct diagnosis? We want to hear from you in the comments.