Christina Applegate Mostly Confined to Her Bedroom Amid MS Battle

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Christina Applegate is sharing a candid update on her health. 

Following her MS diagnosis years ago, the former star of Married…with Children revealed that chronic pain has left her largely confined to bed. However, even with the challenges of MS, she cherishes the moments she spends with her 15-year-old daughter, Sadie – whom she shares with husband Martyn LeNoble – especially during school drop-off, and considers it worth persevering through the pain.

Christina shared with People magazine on February 24th that she cherishes taking her daughter alone, saying, “It’s our special one-on-one time.”

The 54-year-old driver said his main focus was simply getting his passenger to their destination safely and then returning home to get some rest. That’s all he aimed to do, and he always succeeded.

Since receiving a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease affecting her nervous system, the actress from Dead to Me has openly shared how the condition—which she revealed in 2021—has changed her life.

She admitted her life wasn’t perfect or neatly resolved. She explained that life is often difficult and unpleasant, and she was simply trying to be as truthful and genuine as possible.

Part of her candor includes sharing how MS has affected her daughter.

Christina explained to her friend Jamie-Lynn Sigler on their August 26th podcast, MeSsy, that Sadie only knew her as someone who was healthy, a runner, and enjoyed Peloton and dancing. Because of this, when Christina’s health issues arose in 2021, Sadie remained remarkably calm and composed.

She said she often feels her daughter looking at her when she’s trying to sleep. She wants to go say goodnight, but feels strangely paralyzed and unable to move, as if her legs won’t cooperate.

As Christina’s illness becomes her family’s new normal, she explained how it has “broken” Sadie. 

The award-winning actress explained, “She wasn’t aware of this. It felt like losing her mother to this awful situation, and as she’s gotten older, it seems to be causing her even more pain.”

Christina wanted to connect with her fans and share more about her experiences, so she recently created a new social media account to give them a more personal look into her life.

She recently posted on Instagram, saying she never would have believed she’d be on the platform a year ago. However, now that she is, she plans to use it to share her authentic self – being real, unfiltered, and honest.

Follow Christina’s story as she shares her experiences with multiple sclerosis. Here’s a recap of what she’s revealed so far…

Christina Applegate shared she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021.

I wanted to share that I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a few months ago,” she posted on social media last August. “It’s been a really unusual experience, but I’ve felt so much support from others who understand what it’s like to live with MS. It hasn’t been easy, but as we all know, life goes on – unless someone tries to get in the way.

During her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in November 2022 – her first public appearance after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis – she playfully announced, ‘Oh, and by the way, I have a disease.’ She then gestured to her bare feet, adding, ‘Did you not notice?’

Christina believes her MS journey actually began “six or seven years” before her 2021 diagnosis.

Christina Applegate shared that during the first season of Dead to Me, she began experiencing leg weakness while filming. In a March 2024 interview on Good Morning America, she explained she initially dismissed it as fatigue, dehydration, or the weather, and didn’t seek medical attention because the symptoms would disappear for months at a time.

The actress revealed that by the time they were filming the last season of the Netflix show, she needed a wheelchair to get around on set.

“I couldn’t move that far,” she recalled, “so I had to tell everybody because I needed help.”

Christina Applegate, known for her role in Dead to Me, shared a photo of her walking canes and wrote that they’ve become a regular part of her life as she deals with multiple sclerosis.

At the 2023 SAG Awards, Christina delivered a defiant message to multiple sclerosis, simply stating “F U MS,” accompanied by her daughter, Sadie Grace LeNoble.

After getting a standing ovation at the 2023 Emmys, the former star of Married…With Children jokingly said, “You’re making me feel bad about my disability by all standing up!”

Christina explained on the March 2024 episode of Armchair Expert that making jokes is how she copes with her health condition. She said if she didn’t use humor, she wouldn’t be able to handle things and it would be overwhelming.

I was really affected when she shared that she’s dealing with 30 lesions on her brain. What struck me most was hearing that her largest one is located right behind her right eye, and that’s causing her a lot of pain. It’s just heartbreaking to imagine.

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, multiple sclerosis happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve cells.

Christina hasn’t held back when it comes to sharing her journey. 

Christina Applegate was honest about how challenging it is to live with multiple sclerosis when she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show. She admitted it’s ‘not great,’ and said it’s unlikely anyone with MS would consider the condition a positive experience.

In a March 2024 interview with Good Morning America, Christina described living with the disease as being “like living in hell.”

She hopes to feel more capable soon. Currently, she’s coping by staying home and avoiding activities, simply because she doesn’t have the energy or desire to participate. She admits it’s a difficult situation.

Christina Applegate said her Sweetest Thing co-star, Selma Blair – who received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018 – encouraged her to get tested for the condition.

During an interview with GMA, Christina remembered someone telling her, ‘You should get tested for multiple sclerosis.’ She added that if it weren’t for that advice, her condition could have been much more serious.

Christina Applegate has indicated that her role in Dead to Me will probably be the last time she appears on screen. In an interview with Vanity Fair in May 2023, she stated she doesn’t foresee herself returning to a film or television set anytime soon.

I likely won’t be doing on-camera work anymore, but I’m incredibly happy I had the chance to work with Linda Cardellini, who is not only the most talented actress I’ve ever collaborated with, but also one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.

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2026-02-24 20:47