Christina Applegate Reveals MS Misdiagnosis, Says Symptoms Persist

Christina Applegate has revealed that she does not have multiple sclerosis, a disclosure that contradicts the diagnosis she received in August 2021. The actress shared the news on Tuesday during her return to the podcast "MeSsy," which she cohosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, following a sabbatical that began in March.

According to TMZ.com, Applegate announced in the first of two episodes that her doctor informed her she did not have MS, prompting her to take time away from the podcast to process the information. She described her doctor entering the room and congratulating her on the news that she did not have the autoimmune disease, which affects the brain and spinal cord.

Applegate stated that she broke down in tears, but not from joy. She expressed anger at the outcome, telling listeners, "I was, like, not happy at all. Everybody else was so happy," as reported by TMZ.com.

The second episode, released Monday, featured Doctor Marwa Kaisey, a top neurologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Kaisey explained that misdiagnosis of MS is not uncommon, noting that approximately 1 in 5 people are misdiagnosed. She attributed this to the absence of a single definitive test for the disease.

Kaisey elaborated on the diagnostic process, stating, "It's not like we have something like a pregnancy test that says, yes. You have it. No. You don't. It's a list of criteria," according to TMZ.com. She characterized misdiagnosis as "fairly common" because "we don't have one single test for MS."

Despite the revised diagnosis, Applegate emphasized that she continues to experience severe symptoms, which she says have worsened over time. Her initial diagnosis in August 2021 followed years of likely symptoms, and she frequently discussed the disease's impact on her life with Sigler, who was diagnosed with MS in 2001.

The podcast episodes offer insight into the challenges of diagnosing MS and the emotional toll of a misdiagnosis. Applegate's disclosure underscores the importance of accurate medical testing and the persistence of symptoms even when a diagnosis is revised.