Christina Applegate has opened up about her ‘new normal’ as she prepares to re-enter public life using walking sticks.
In August 2021, Applegate revealed she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) a few months prior.
Commonly referred to as MS, the autoimmune condition can affect the brain and the spinal cord, leading to a range of potential symptoms including trouble with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
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It is about two to three times more common in women than men and is usually diagnosed in the patient’s 20s, 30s or 40s but can develop at any age, according to the NHS.
It’s possible to treat symptoms however there is no known cure for MS.
The Married… With Children star, 50, shared a picture of five decorated walking sticks which she called ‘beauties’ on Twitter.
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Describing the journey up to that point as ‘strange’, she also tweeted: “But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it.”
The Dead to Me actor received an outpouring of support from the public and fellow Hollywood stars, including Selma Blair, who responded: “Loving you always. Always here. As are our kids. Beating us up with love.”
Applegate took to Twitter as she prepared for her first public event since being diagnosed in tweet shared on 27 October.
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“I have a very important ceremony coming up,” she wrote. “This will be my first time out since diagnosed with MS. Walking sticks are now part of my new normal. Thank you @neonwalksticks for these beauties. Stay tuned to see which ones make the cut for a week of stuff.”
The walking sticks are indeed gorgeous, with an opaque black option, a glittery see-through stick and two adorned with glamorous chains.
The mum-of-one has documented her day-to-day life with MS on Twitter.
In a tweet shared on her 50th birthday in November last year, Applegate said: “Yup. I turned 50 today. And I have MS. It’s been a hard one. Sending so much love to all of you this day.
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"Many are hurting today, and I am thinking of you. May we find that strength to lift our heads up. Mine currently is on my pillow. But I try.”
Her pal and Hellboy star Selma Blair announced her own MS diagnosis in October 2018 on Instagram.
Reflecting on her gratitude for costume designer Allisa Swanson, who helped her on the set of the Netflix series Another Life, she wrote: “The brilliant costumer #Allisaswanson not only designs the pieces #harperglass will wear on this new #Netflix show , but she carefully gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my coats and offers her shoulder to steady myself.
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“I have #multiplesclerosis . I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and will power and the understanding producers at Netflix.
"I have a job. A wonderful job. I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps. But we are doing it .”
We can’t wait to see which walking stick Christina chooses!
For help and support with MS, please visit the MS Society https://www.mssociety.org.uk/
Gregory Robinson