Christina Applegate has revealed she does not have multiple sclerosis after all. On the latest episode of her and Jamie-Lynn Sigler's MeSsY podcast on Tuesday, October 20, the Emmy-winning actress, 54, broke down in tears as she discussed her misdiagnosis, five years after she went public with her MS battle.
"[My doctor] came into my room and said, 'Congratulations, you don't have MS,'" Applegate recalled. "I was, like, not happy at all.
Everybody else was so happy." Dr. Marwa Casey explained that MS misdiagnoses are "fairly common" because there is no single test that definitively confirms the condition. In fact, there is a one in five chance of a misdiagnosis, which can lead to decades of incorrect treatment.
Applegate noted that learning she was misdiagnosed has left her feeling defeated. "You don't get misdiagnosed and then all of the sudden I'm better," she said.
"I haven't gotten better, Jamie! If anything, I've gotten worse.
So I'm back at square one where I don't know what's going on with me." Applegate publicly revealed her MS diagnosis in 2021 and has continued to speak candidly about her health battle.
But now, she feels as though she has "let everybody down" after being the "poster child for MS" for the past five years. "Everything I was doing - I had a reason.
I had a reason as to why my day sucked every day. And now I don't have a reason and it's very unnerving and it's very confusing for me," she admitted.
Medical professionals continue to analyze the complexities of neurological disorders, highlighting how crucial accurate initial screenings are for patients worldwide. Fans and supporters across the globe have flooded social media with messages of encouragement for the beloved actress during this challenging time.