A multiple sclerosis (MS) charity has shared five common early signs to look out for as Dead to Me star Christina Applegate previously admitted to ignoring some of the early signs of her own diagnosis.
As per the NHS, MS is an autoimmune condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms including numbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the body, feeling off balance, and problems with the eyes of vision.
Although there is no known cure for MS, it can be treated to help patients manage it. Actress Christina Applegate was diagnosed with MS in June 2021 and she shared the news publicly in August that year. The 52-year-old has been candid about her health ever since.
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Applegate also shared that she might have started experiencing symptoms up to seven years before she was diagnosed, but she often assumed it was due to other things.
Most MS symptoms start between the ages of 20 and 40 and it is three times more common in women than men, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Applegate told Robin Roberts earlier this year she thought the symptoms began seven years before she was diagnosed, as her legs would give out during the filming of the first season of Dead to Me.
"I really just kind of put it off as being tired, or I’m dehydrated, or it’s the weather," she told Today about the symptoms she didn’t realise was MS. "And then nothing would happen for, like, months, and I didn’t pay attention."
What are the five common early signs of MS?
It’s important to be aware of the early signs of MS to ensure you get the medical help you need as soon as possible. You should consult your doctor as soon as possible if you think you might have MS.
UK-based charity Multiple Sclerosis Trust is raising awareness of five common early signs. These symptoms can vary person-to-person and the list is not exhaustive.
Fatigue
Fatigue differs from regular tiredness. Multiple Sclerosis Trust describe it as ‘a complete mental and physical exhaustion that’s completely out of sync with what’s going on in your life’.
Slowed thinking
Thinking and memory problems also affect those with MS and it is believed that about half of those with MS are impacted by this. You may find yourself struggling to stay focused or making plans and decisions.
Stumbling
Walking difficulties such as stumbling are common for being with MS, and balance and coordination may be affected. People with MS also describe tripping for no apparent reason, lightheadedness and a spinning feeling or unsteadiness.
Strange skin sensations
This has been described as being ‘one of the more bizarre’ by the charity, with sufferers comparing it to the feeling of crawling insects. It may also feel like numbness, a painful ‘electric shock’ sensation, pins and needles, buzzing or burning.
Sudden eyesight problems
Many people with MS have problems with their eyesight, such as optic neuritis which is a condition that can cause pain and vision loss.
Christina Applegate's MS symptoms
- Balance issues
- Speech issues
- Shaky hands
- Feeling weak at the knees (when walking etc)
- Numb toes
Applegate previously recalled being able to 'brush off' the symptoms in January 2021, but just before she started shooting the third season of Dead To Me, she felt as though she had been 'hit by a truck and didn’t know what was going on'.
And during an appearance on SiriusXM's This Life of Mine with James Corden, Applegate said: "Things just started to get weirder and weirder, and before I knew it, we were about to start shooting the last season of Dead To Me and by this time I was like, 'You guys, I can't even walk up the steps to my trailer.'"
Topics: Health, NHS, Mental Health, Celebrity, Christina Applegate, TV And Film
Gregory Robinson