Dion shared that she had been diagnosed with a “very rare” progressive neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome, probably the first time most people had heard of it.
“As you know, I've always been an open book,” she said in an Instagram video. “Before I wasn't ready to say anything, but now I'm ready. I've been dealing with health problems for a long time and it's been really hard for me to face these challenges and talk about everything I've been through.”
She suffered muscle spasms that affected “every aspect” of her daily life, Dion explained, making it difficult for her to walk at times and, saddest of all, making it impossible for her to go back on tour as she had been planning.
“I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to get my strength back and my ability to perform again,” Dion said. “But I have to admit it's been a struggle.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, symptoms include stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, and increased sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, all of which can lead to muscle spasms.
