In an Instagram post, American actress Selma Blair, 46, revealed she has suffered symptoms of MS “for years” but was only diagnosed with the condition in August.
According to the Cruel Intentions star, she has noticed symptoms for around 15 years, but was “never taken seriously” until she fell down in front of a doctor “trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve”.
“I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken GPS,” Blair posted on Instagram.
“But we are doing it. And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best.”
“I am in the thick of it but I hope to give some hope to others. And even to myself.”
What is multiple sclerosis?
MS is an incurable autoimmune condition which can affect the brain and/or spinal cord.
An autoimmune condition is when the immune system mistakenly attacks a healthy part of the body.
In MS, the immune system attacks the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves, called the myelin sheath.
This damages and scars the sheath, and potentially the underlying nerves, meaning that messages travelling along the nerves become slowed or disrupted.
MS can sometimes cause serious disability, but can also occasionally be mild.
It’s estimated there are more than 100,000 people diagnosed with MS in the UK, according to the NHS.
MS can develop at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s. The condition is also about two to three times more common in women than in men.
What are the symptoms of MS?
The symptoms of MS vary widely from person to person and can affect any part of the body.
The main symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, and problems controlling the bladder.
Other main symptoms are numbness or tingling in different parts of the body, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and problems with thinking, learning and planning.
Depending on the type of MS, symptoms may come and go in phases, or get steadily worse over time.
“See your GP if you’re worried you might have early signs of MS,” said the NHS.
“The symptoms can be similar to several other conditions, so they’re not necessarily caused by MS.”