Stiff Person Syndrome

The singer repeatedly postponed performances in the past year because of severe muscle spasms. In a tearful Instagram post, she revealed she has been ...

"Unfortunately, the 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 ...

Researchers call it a neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. It causes muscle stiffness in a person's torso and limbs, and a heightened ...

“A lot of people are able to make recovery to the point that their condition is stable. They can continue to live fairly mobile (lives),” he notes, adding that it’s possible Dion can recover to the point where she is performing again. Physical, occupational and aqua therapy is also an important part of the treatment, according to “Those muscles are prone to spasm, or tightening up, and I’m sure it can affect the way that she sings and performs,” Mijatovic says. Since the symptoms mimic other conditions, it can be difficult to diagnose. Desimir Mijatovic, a pain medicine specialist with the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “If those muscles aren’t working properly, that can make it very difficult.” “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. Researchers call it a neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. [National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke](https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/stiff-person-syndrome). It causes muscle stiffness in a person’s torso and limbs, and a heightened sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional stress, which can set off painful muscle spasms, according to the [Celine Dion opens up](https://www.today.com/health/celine-dion-reveals-rare-neurological-disease-stiff-person-syndrome-rcna60708) about the health problems forcing her to postpone and cancel some of her performances, she’s putting the spotlight on stiff person syndrome.

In an emotional Instagram video post, the singer opened up about her rare neurological disorder—forcing her to postpone her Europe tour.

“This is my focus, and I’m doing everything that I can to recuperate.” “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 hope,” she says. It’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most.” Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome that affects “something like one in a million people,” she says to her fans. “I have to admit, it’s been a struggle,” she says in the video message. In a tearful message on her Instagram, the “My Heart Will Go On” artist says she has to postpone her Europe tour dates set for 2023.

Celine Dion just revealed she's been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. Here's what you need to know about the disorder.

“The handful of people I’ve seen with stiff person syndrome have not been particularly progressive—it’s not universally progressive,” he says. There was a study that looked into using the drug rituximab, but it “proved ineffective” in treating people with stiff person syndrome, NINDS says. Medications can improve symptoms of stiff person syndrome but won’t cure the condition, NINDS says. (People with stiff person syndrome have higher-than-usual levels of GAD, an antibody that works against an important neurotransmitter in the brain. The spinal cord has been damaged and the symptoms of spinal cord injury need to be addressed using medicines that reduce spasms.” With the right treatment, symptoms are usually controlled, NINDS says. That can mean using medications like benzodiazepines or baclofen to treat muscle stiffness and spasms, along with anti-seizure medications, according to the Cleveland Clinic. “The immune system is attacking the spinal cord and that attack needs to be stopped using immune suppression. “We know how to stop the progression of this disease with immune suppression,” Dr. “Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition called stiff person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” she shared in the post’s video. Because it’s so rare, stiff person syndrome can be misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia, NINDS says. The condition is very rare—about one out of every one million people have been diagnosed with it, the Cleveland Clinic says, but twice as many women have stiff person syndrome as men.

Celine Dion shared she has stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes painful muscle spasms. The singer, 54, won't be restarting her ...

The condition is progressive, and persistent symptoms, which usually show up between ages 19 to 65, can cause the spine to change shape. Stiff person syndrome causes some people to frequently fall because their defensive reflexes don’t work correctly, which can cause severe injuries, per the It affects the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system, and causes muscle stiffness and rigidity in addition to the painful spasms Dion described. “This is my focus, and I’m doing everything that I can to recuperate.” The 54-year-old singer said the condition is the cause of her recent health problems, including debilitating muscle spasms that led to [tour cancellations](https://www.self.com/story/celine-dion-muscle-spasms). “As you know, I’ve always been an open book, and I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now,” Dion says in a video.

“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 ...

“This means a lot to me,” Dion concluded her message tearfully. “This is my focus.” “But I have to admit it’s been a struggle.” “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.” “Spasms can generate enough force to fracture bone.” “I miss seeing all of you, being on the stage, performing for you.