What is multiple sclerosis that Christina Applegate was misdiagnosed with?

Christina Applegate's recent health update has shocked fans about how she was misdiagnosed. Doctors recently told her she does not have multiple sclerosis (MS). It's the condition she was diagnosed with back in 2021. The news has left the actor struggling to understand what is causing her ongoing health problems.

What is multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system ends up attacking the protective covering of nerve fibres. This damage interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.

The condition affects the CNS and its symptoms can vary from person to person, as per the Mayo Clinic.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, people diagnosed with MS may experience the following:

• numbness
• tingling
• fatigue
• difficulty walking

There are several types of the disease and its progression can be difficult to predict.

MS apparently has no known cause. There is not even a single test that can confirm every case. Dr. Marwa Kaisey, an associate professor in the neurology department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, explained on Applegate's podcast that misdiagnosis is a recognised problem.

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She said almost 1 in 5 people who have been told they have MS did not actually have the condition. She also described misdiagnoses as “fairly common” because doctors cannot rely on one test alone.

Why was Christina Applegate diagnosed with MS

Applegate announced her diagnosis in August 2021, describing the experience on X as a “strange journey.” She also said she had felt supported by others living with the condition.

She underwent several medical tests including MRIs and a spinal tap. The scans had shown lesions on her brain. Her first symptom was numbness in her toes, and she later described other problems, including tingling in her limbs and difficulty maintaining her balance.



The actor recently said her doctor told her, “Congratulations, you don't have MS.” Rather than feeling relieved, Applegate broke down while discussing the news on MeSsy. “This may come as great news, but to me, it comes as I'm back at square one,” she said.




She explained that the change in diagnosis had not improved her condition. “You don't get misdiagnosed and then all of a sudden I'm better. I haven't gotten better, Jamie. If anything, I've gotten worse in some ways. So I'm back at square one, that I don't know what's going on with me.”

ChristinaApplegate continues to deal with debilitating symptoms

The Dead to Me star has spoken openly about how her health has changed her life. In a 2022 interview with The New York Times, she said she “can't walk without a cane.” She also used a wheelchair while filming the Netflix series, whose script was adjusted to accommodate her symptoms.In a 2025 podcast episode, Applegate said she had been in hospital more than 30 times since her original diagnosis. She has also discussed the possibility of stepping away from acting on camera because of her physical difficulties. She now attends physical therapy three times a week.

The latest news has also brought emotional challenges. Applegate said she felt she had “let everybody down” because she and Sigler had become “poster children for MS.” Sigler reassured her that she had done nothing wrong and “didn't mislead anyone.”