Christina Applegate Reveals She Has Multiple Sclerosis: 'It's Been A Tough Road'

Actress Christina Applegate opened up about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis through a Twitter post on late Monday evening. The Dead To Me star revealed in the post that she had been diagnosed with the condition "a few months ago." Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It's been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It's been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it, read her post. 

According to Mayo Clinic, multiple sclerosis is a "potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system)" where one's immune system attacks its own protective sheath covering nerve fibers called myelin throughout the body i.e. healthy cells of the body. Now the myelin assists in the communication of nerves and when it's destroyed it exposed the nerves and slows down the communication between one's "brain and the rest of the body. Eventually, the autoimmune disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.

The signs and symptoms of the condition vary from person to person and depend on the amount of damage it has already had on the body. While some may experience "long periods of remission without any new symptoms," in severe cases, a person may lose the ability to walk completely. Unfortunately, there's no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS) but "treatments can help speed recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms." According to CNN, researchers believe the disease is a result of both genetic and environmental factors. However, the exact underlying cause is not yet known. 

Per the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, over 2.3 million people around the world have a diagnosis of MS, and in the U.S. more than 1 million people over the age of 18 live with it, and now the Golden Globe nominee has been diagnosed with it too. In a follow-up post, the Primetime Emmy winner wrote: As one of my friends that has MS said “ we wake up and take the indicated action”. And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo. Soon her comment section was filled with words of support and prayers as many people opened up about sharing the same diagnosis. 

Self-proclaimed writer Carly Findlay OAM shared: Welcome to the disability community, Christina. Sending love snd solidarity. Another @InferiorNo shared their own battle with MS writing: I am so sorry. 19 years for me. It's a road but it's not always as bumpy as it seems at first. You'll educate yourself & family, you'll be scared, you'll be in denial. Then, all of a sudden you don't think about it all the time. It's just you. Hang in there! A third @Amanda_STL gave the star assurance.

You will be JUST FINE! Some days are stinky, but after a while, the good days start to win. The 1st year was the toughest. Constant mental body scans, anxiety about every twitch on the body mean a relapse? As your body heals & once you wrap your head around it, it gets easier, they explained. Even the National MS Society responded to her tweet and wrote: Thank you, Christina, for your courage in opening up about living with MS. We all appreciate the awareness that you are bringing to the disease. Please know that we at the MS Society are here to help in whatever way that we can.

This isn't the first time that the Married... with Children actor has had a health scare. Back in 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer according to NBC News. For this, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy and since ridding herself of it has set up a foundation called "Right Action for Women" to encourage and fund MRI scans and other forms of early detection.