Stiff-person syndrome

Stiff-person syndrome, which has forced Canadian superstar singer Celine Dion to postpone her European tour, is a very rare neurological...

The name has since been changed – women in fact make up a majority of cases. If left untreated, the syndrome can cause problems walking leading to the use of a wheelchair, and can significantly impact a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks. Symptoms develop over a matter of months or years, normally between the ages of 30 to 60, and can remain stable in some cases or get gradually worse in others.

The singer repeatedly postponed performances in the past year because of severe muscle spasms. In a tearful Instagram post, she revealed she has been ...

"Unfortunately, the spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing ...

Singer Celine Dion has revealed she has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that left her unable to perform.

In an emotional Instagram video post, the singer opened up about her rare neurological disorder—forcing her to postpone her Europe tour.

“This is my focus, and I’m doing everything that I can to recuperate.” “I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children who are supporting me and giving me hope,” she says. It’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most.” Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome that affects “something like one in a million people,” she says to her fans. “I have to admit, it’s been a struggle,” she says in the video message. In a tearful message on her Instagram, the “My Heart Will Go On” artist says she has to postpone her Europe tour dates set for 2023.

“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing ...

“This means a lot to me,” Dion concluded her message tearfully. “This is my focus.” “But I have to admit it’s been a struggle.” “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.” “Spasms can generate enough force to fracture bone.” “I miss seeing all of you, being on the stage, performing for you.

Celine Dion's diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome has called attention to the rare disorder, which causes muscle spams and rigidity in the torso and limbs.

Stiff person syndrome is a rare neurological condition that can take years to diagnose and tailor treatment.

Stiff-person syndrome, which has forced Canadian superstar singer Celine Dion to postpone her European tour, is a very rare neurological condition that ...

[said on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl5xJY1AjAO/?hl=en). The name has since been changed – women, in fact, make up a majority of cases. [according to NORD](https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/stiff-person-syndrome/). [added](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl5xJY1AjAO/?hl=en). [wrote in the journal Neurology](https://n.neurology.org/content/99/23_Supplement_2/S12). [according to](https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/stiff-person-syndrome/) the US National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).

The condition impacts the brain and spinal cord, and Dion says it has affected her vocal cords and interfered with her ability to sing.

“I always give a hundred percent when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now.” In addition, some people may take anti-seizure medicines, anti-inflammatories, or [corticosteroids](/corticosteroids/guide/) to reduce pain. But the progression of symptoms isn’t linear, and the severity and frequency of symptoms vary from one patient to the next. But she did say her path to recovery has been challenging. GABA regulates motor neurons that control movement throughout the body, and when there’s not enough of this protein, the nervous system can shift to overdrive and interfere with normal movement. Treatment instead focuses on symptom management and minimizing disability related to the condition. People tend to go through repeated cycles where the condition worsens and then improves, according to NORD. [National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)](https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/stiff-person-syndrome/). “As you know, I’ve always been an open book, and I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now,” Dion said in the video. The condition is also more common in people with [autoimmune diseases](https://www.everydayhealth.com/autoimmune-diseases/all-articles/) such as [rheumatoid arthritis](/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/) and [lupus](/lupus/). “Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff-person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” Dion continued. [benzodiazepines](https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep-disorders/xanax-valium-benzodiazepines-prescribed-for-sleep-disorders-raise-overdose-risk/) — such as [diazepam](/drugs/diazepam) and [clonazepam](/drugs/clonazepam) — or the muscle relaxant [baclofen](/drugs/baclofen) to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms, according to the [Cleveland Clinic](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/6076-stiff-person-syndrome).

Stiff person syndrome is a rare, chronic, autoimmune neurologic disease whose typical symptoms are stiffness, muscle spasms, and difficulty walking.

“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” Dion said in a video posted to her social media accounts. [Amanda Piquet](https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/25732), MD, associate professor of [neurology](https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/neurology) at the [University of Colorado School of Medicine](https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/) and and director of the Autoimmune Neurology Program at CU's [Rocky Mountain MS Center](https://mscenter.org), specializes in treating people with SPS, which she describes as a neurologic autoimmune disease. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”

Celine Dion took to Instagram to share that she has an incurable rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome. Her tour has been postponed until ...