Celine Dion Has No Control Over Her Muscles: Stiff-Person Syndrome

My Heart Will Go On singer Celine Dion may not be able to perform live shows again as she has lost control of some of her mobility. Her sister Claudette Dion confirmed that Celine was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome a year ago, and now she doesn’t have control over her muscles.

Celine canceled her Courage World Tour in May because of the rare neurological disorder. The Grammy-winning singer had taken to Instagram to inform her fans about her condition. “I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100 percent.

“It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again.”

What is Stiff-Person Syndrome

According to John Hopkins Medicine, Stiff-Person Sydrome (SPS) is a condition wherein the patient witnesses episodes of muscles locking up and becoming stiff as a board. It’s a rare progressive and underdiagnosed immune-mediated disorder of the central nervous system characterized by progressive rigidity and triggered painful spasms of predominantly axial and proximal limb muscles.

Also known as Moersch-Woltman Syndrome, the condition has an insidious onset with gradual worsening over time. It often leads to permanent disability. Medical experts say SPS may coexist with other autoimmune disorders, including Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (DM-1), autoimmune thyroid disease, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, and vitiligo.

Symptoms to look out for are painful muscle contractions and spasms that begin in the legs and back. Claudette Dion explained the symptoms as such – “You know how people often jump up in the night because of a cramp in the leg or the calf? It’s a bit like that, but in all muscles. There’s a little we can do to support her, to alleviate her pain.”

Celine Dion Stiff-Person Syndrome

Celine Dion said the spasms affect every aspect of her daily life, by causing difficulties while walking and not allowing her to use her vocal cords to sing the way she’s used to. “I have to admit it’s been a struggle. All I know is singing, it’s what I’ve done all my life.”

Claudette Dion said it is her dream and her sister’s dream to return to the stage one day. “In what capacity? I don’t know. The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what gets me.”