Singer Celine Dion revealed she has been diagnosed with an incurable and rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome that turns people into “human statues” and can cause bone-breaking spasms. Her tour is canceled.
Celine Dion reveals incurable stiff person syndrome diagnosis
In a tearful Instagram post on Thursday, singer Celine Dion revealed that she has been diagnosed with a very rare and incurable neurological condition known as “stiff person syndrome,” the Daily Mail reported.
The effects of the condition and her treatment program have forced the 54-year-old Grammy-winner to cancel her European tour until at least 2024, the New York Post reported.
“Hello everyone, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out to you,” Dion wrote. “I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person.”
“As you know, I’ve always been an open book and I wasn’t ready to say anything before but I’m ready now,” continued in the devastating clip. “I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it has been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.”
“Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome,” Dion revealed, “which affects one in a million people.”
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what is causing all the spasms I’ve been having,” Dion explained. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
“It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February,” Dion announced. “I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children who are supporting me and giving me help.”
“I want to thank you so much for your wishes and love and support on my social media,” Dion added. “This means a lot to me.”
Stiff person syndrome: Human statues and bone-breaking spasms
“Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is an autoimmune and neurological disorder that can make the muscles in the torso and limbs alternate between rigidity and spasms,” according to Yale Medicine.
The syndrome affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
This extremely rare disease affects twice as many women as men. Symptoms most often occur between the ages of 30 and 60.
The syndrome tends to affect the muscles in the trunk and abdomen first, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In the early stages of the condition, muscle stiffness can come and go. But as the disease progresses, the stiffness in the muscles eventually remains constant.
Over time, the stiffness moves into leg muscles, followed by other muscles such as those in the arms and the face.
In severe cases, the stiffness can make it hard to walk or move, with the effects being likened to turning people into “human statues.”
Painful muscle spasms can also occur, lasting anywhere from seconds to hours. The spasms can sometimes be severe enough to cause a limb to dislocate, break a bone, or lead to uncontrolled falls.
