Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis
The actress announced the correction on her podcast, saying she still experiences MS‑like symptoms.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Actress Christina Applegate announced on Tuesday that a 2021 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was incorrect, according to her MeSsy podcast.
What happened
Applegate, 54, said new testing technology prompted doctors to revise the earlier diagnosis. She disclosed the update during the episode of MeSsy that marked the show’s return after a seven‑month break for health reasons.
What the reports add
- The Independent noted that Applegate described the news as “great” but left her feeling “back at square one,” and highlighted her disappointment at the doctor’s reversal.
- Scientific American reported that the original 2021 diagnosis was based on the detection of “almost 40” brain lesions, and explained that many conditions can mimic MS symptoms.
- Scientific American added that a recent meta‑analysis estimates roughly 15 % of MS cases are misdiagnosed, and that advances such as the “central vein sign” and “paramagnetic rim lesion” are improving diagnostic accuracy.
- Both outlets quoted Applegate saying she still experiences every classic symptom of MS, even though the diagnosis has been overturned.
What was said
“This may come as great news, but to me, I’m back at square one,” Applegate told the Independent.
“It’s hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS.’”
“You don’t get misdiagnosed and then all of the sudden I’m better. I haven’t gotten better … If anything, I’ve gotten worse in some ways,” she said.
“I’m back at square one,” she repeated on the MeSsy podcast, as reported by Scientific American.
“In January of 2021, I had numbness in my toes, and that numbness grew to all of my legs… And then the pain started,” she recalled on the podcast.
Bruce Bebo, chief research and medical affairs officer at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, told Scientific American, “Diagnosing MS is a little bit like putting a puzzle together. There’s not a single diagnostic test that tells you, ‘you have MS.’”
Thomas Flagiello, a neurologist at NYU Langone, said, “Overall, although misdiagnosis happens, the majority of cases are correctly diagnosed.”
How it came about
Applegate first disclosed her MS diagnosis in 2021 and retired from acting in 2022 after the final season of Dead to Me. She later spent four months in the hospital in 2022, a period previously covered by Felo News. The recent podcast episode, recorded with co‑host Jamie‑Lynn Sigler—who herself lives with relapsing MS—revisited her symptoms and the diagnostic process, emphasizing that many disorders can present with MS‑like signs, a point highlighted by both outlets.
Key facts
- Christina Applegate announced she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis. (independent.co.uk)
- The correction was disclosed on her MeSsy podcast after a seven‑month hiatus. (independent.co.uk)
- Original 2021 diagnosis was based on nearly 40 brain lesions. (scientificamerican.com)
- Applegate continues to experience symptoms that resemble MS. (scientificamerican.com)
Timeline
- 2021-01-01 — Applegate experienced numbness and pain leading to MS testing.
- 2021-03-01 — Doctors diagnosed her with multiple sclerosis based on brain lesions.
- 2022-06-01 — Applegate retired from acting after the finale of "Dead to Me".
- 2026-09-22 — Felo News reported Applegate’s return to public view after a hospital stay.
- 2026-10-20 — Applegate announced misdiagnosis on her podcast.
