Celine Dion speaks on surviving Stiff Person Syndrome (2024)

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Celine Dion speaks on surviving Stiff Person Syndrome? ›

Celine Dion has opened up about living with the rare neurological condition stiff person syndrome, saying, “nothing is going to stop me.” Speaking to Vogue France in an interview published Monday, the Canadian-born singer said she was, “well, but it's a lot of work,” adding: “I'm taking it one day at a time.”

There is no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome. When doctors treat patients with this condition, they focus on relieving symptoms with medications such as sedatives, muscle relaxants, and steroids. Intravenous Immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis, among other immunotherapies, may also be prescribed.

SPS was once known as stiff man syndrome, but it is more common in women. No treatment eliminates or cures SPS, but medications and other therapies can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life, and some treatments may help prevent disease progression.

Patients typically present with initial symptoms between 40 and 60 years, although the onset has been reported in patients who are younger than 40 years and older than 60 years. From symptom onset to death, the course of SPS can range from 6-28 years.

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. SPS is characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms.

According to MedicineNet, individuals diagnosed with stiff person syndrome can live between 6 to 28 years from the onset of symptoms before succumbing to the condition. While there is currently no cure for SPS, several treatments aim to manage symptoms or slow down the progression of the disorder.

In a clinical trial with 10 patients with SPS, six patients continue the treatment chronically on an outpatient basis. However, three patients have complete remission of their symptoms, while seven patients only partially relieve symptoms [24].

When singer Celine Dion recently announced that she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS), it created an opportunity for many to learn about this rare autoimmune neurologic disorder that affects only one in a million people.

Celine Dion stepped away from performing last year as she battled "stiff-person" syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that has affected her ability to walk and sing. Her sister, Claudette Dion, now says Dion doesn't have control of her muscles.

It is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases such as type-I diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia. Scientists don't yet understand what causes SPS, but research indicates that it is the result of an autoimmune response gone awry in the brain and spinal cord.

How painful is stiff person syndrome? ›

People who have stiff person syndrome experience alternating rigidity and spasm in their muscles. Muscles can be so rigid that they feel like a board. And the muscle spasms, which are extremely painful and can be triggered by stress or other external factors, can create enough force to break bones.

SPS can be readily misdiagnosed as motor neuron disease (ALS or monomelic amyotrophy) if the clinical presentation of rigidity and exaggerated DTR is associated with LMN features.

Stiff person syndrome is a rare disease affecting only one or two people per million. It commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that worsen over time. They can be triggered by a variety of things including sudden movement, cold temperature or unexpected loud noises.

Mood and anxiety disorders are associated with deficits in learning and memory, executive function, and attention—areas also impaired in SPSD and anti-GAD65 associated diseases (8, 9).

This condition was formerly named stiff-man syndrome and is also known as Moersch-Woltman Syndrome. The current clinical classification of SPS includes: Classic SPS. Partial SPS variants. Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM).

Eventually, of paramount importance, a gluten-free diet showed great results in patients with stiff-person syndrome. In a study including 20 patients with SPS, the patients were recommended to adopt a gluten-free diet.

I learned Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a neurological disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. Symptoms include debilitating pain and muscle spasms. Currently there is no cure. I found no indication that any patient had ever achieved full remission.

Last year, Celine Dion revealed she was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscular stiffness and spasms. In a new interview, Dion's sister Claudette told 7 Jours that the star's disorder had progressed and she can no longer control her muscles.

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare acquired neurological disorder that most often causes progressive muscle stiffness (rigidity) and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms. Muscular rigidity often fluctuates (i.e., grows worse and then improves) and usually occurs along with the muscle spasms.

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare disorder seen in approximately one in one million people. Although it is rare, the symptoms and findings of a typical case should paint a clear clinical picture for those who are familiar with the disease.