Christina Applegate says MS symptoms landed her in hospital over 30 times: What is multiple sclerosis?

Christina Applegate recently opened up about her struggles with multiple sclerosis (MS). The 'Dead To Me' actress spoke about being hospitalized over 30 times since her diagnosis three years ago.

“That is unimaginable, OK? They've done every test known to man on me, put so much radiation into my body from CT scans to everything else,” she said while talking in an episode of the podcast ‘MeSsy,’ which she co-hosts with fellow actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler. The 53-year-old actress further spoke about the extensive medical tests she had to go through, including multiple CT scans, and how she experienced severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and pain, making it difficult for her to use the bathroom without throwing up. The actress stated that her neurological medical team has told her that is not usually an ‘MS thing,’ but she couldn’t agree, “I'm sorry, there's got to be a correlation here."

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that happens when the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. WHO notes that the symptoms of MS vary from person to person and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage. Currently, it cannot be cured, but treatment can often help manage the symptoms.

Though the cause of MS is not clear. Certain factors may increase the risk.

• you're aged 20 to 50
• you're a woman – women are more likely than men to get MS
• you have a brother, sister or parent who has MS
• you smoke – people who smoke are about twice as likely to develop MS
• you've had the Epstein-Barr virus (a common virus that causes illnesses such as glandular fever)

What are the symptoms of MS?

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be differ from person to person. The symptoms often come (called ‘flare-ups’ or ‘relapses’) and go (called ‘remissions’), or get worse over time. MS can affect any part of the central nervous system. WHO says that MS symptoms worsen with heat or when the patient has other infections like urinary tract or respiratory infections.

The symptoms include:

• vision problems
• difficulty walking or keeping balance
• difficulty thinking clearly
• numbness or weakness especially in the arms and legs
• muscle stiffness
• depression
• problems with sexual function or urination
• feeling very tired.

How does MS affect your life?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is different for everyone. So it is not really possible to predict how it may affect one compared to another.


NHS notes that for some, this only has a small impact on daily life which means they can continue with their work and usual activities. Others, however, may have more severe symptoms which can have a much bigger impact.