In a recent interview for NBC, Canadian singer Celine Dion shared her main struggles against her neurological condition, Stiff Person Syndrome, and said that despite everything, her dream is to return to the stage.
Celine was diagnosed in December 2022, struggles with stiff person syndrome, a progressive autoimmune disorder. Despite having no cure, there is a treatment to control the symptoms.
However, the singer also confessed that one of her main fears is becoming addicted to Valium, also known as diazepam. This medicine works as a muscle relaxant, however, it can lead to a serious addiction.
Celine Dion shared that her body got used to the drug:
“I did not know, honestly, that it could kill me. I would take, for example before a performance, 20 milligrams of Valium, and then just walking from my dressing room to backstage — it was gone,” Dion said of the instant pain relief the medication offered at levels, however that “could have been fatal” if she’d continued at that pace. “At one point, the thing is, that my body got used to it at 20 and 30 and 40 [milligrams] until it went up. And I needed that. It was relaxing my whole body. For two weeks, for a month, the show would go on… but then you get used to [and] it doesn’t work anymore.”
Celine’s Dream Is To Get Back On Stage
“I’m going to get back on stage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to speak with my hands, I will,” she said in the interview.
“Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the hardest experiences of my life. But I remain determined to one day get back onto the stage and to live as normal of a life as possible.”
In December 2022, Dion announced that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a progressive autoimmune disorder that has no cure. Its treatment, however, can help control symptoms. This rare disease affects women more than men.
To describe the disease, Dion shared that it feels like “someone is strangling you.” Spasms, in addition to being very painful, can cause serious damage to the body, including fractures.
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Due to this difficult situation, the Canadian had to cancel a tour scheduled for 2023 and 2024.
Dion is now working with director Irene Taylor Brodsky on the upcoming Prime Video documentary I Am: Celine Dion which will premiere on June 25.
What is Stiff Person Disease
According to Rare Diseases, 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.
Spasms may occur randomly or can be triggered by a variety of different events or circumstances including a sudden noise, light physical contact or when exposed to cold. The severity and progression of SPS varies from one person to another. If left untreated, SPS can potentially progress to cause difficulty walking and significantly impact a person’s ability to perform routine and daily tasks.
