According to Dion, the syndrome makes her feel as though she is being “strangled,” and she frequently experiences intense agony due to acute cramps and muscle rigidity.
Veteran Canadian singer Celine Dion has opened up about the difficulties brought on by the uncommon neurological condition known as stiff person syndrome, which has impacted her health.
The 56-year-old spoke with NBC News about her experience living with the crippling illness.
According to Dion, the syndrome makes her feel as though she is being “strangled,” and she frequently experiences intense agony due to acute cramps and muscle rigidity.
“It’s like somebody is strangling you. It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx. It was like talking like that, and you cannot go high or lower,” she described.
She also mentioned that pointing her feet or using her hands while cooking can cause them to lock into painful positions.
“It’s cramping but it’s like in a position where you cannot unlock them,” she said.
The singer recounted a particularly severe episode that resulted in broken ribs due to the intensity of the muscle spasms.
“I have broken ribs at one point because sometimes when it’s very severe, it can break,” she shared.
Celine Dion was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022.
She had initially attempted to cope with the symptoms on her own but eventually came to terms with the fact that her life would have to adapt to the condition.