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Celine Dion has had an ongoing battle with her health while she has continued to be a superstar. Dion is an incredibly famous singer best known for songs such as “My Heart Will Go On” and “All By Myself.” Though the hight of her touring career was in the 1990s when she was releasing her classic hits, she has continued to be a staple in the music industry to this day. She is famous for her Las Vegas residency and has continued to tour, but this rare condition has halted her career.
Dion was recently diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. She had been looking for answers for a long time for the source of her muscle pain and mobility issues. The diagnosis, however, was not the answer to her prayers. She has had to continuously cancel performances and undergo intensive physical therapy for the syndrome.
What Is Celine Dion’s Health Issue?
Celine Dion was diagnosed in December 2022 with stiff person syndrome. The diagnosis is incredibly rare and there are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the syndrome.
According to a social media post made by Dion, the condition affects millions of people around the globe. However, there is no cure for the condition and treatment is solely to relieve symptoms.
Stiff person syndrome is considered a neurological condition. It can cause spasms, muscle rigidity, and extreme pain. It can also cause sensitivity to sound and lights, which is very problematic for a performer like Dion who is consistently on stage surrounded by this stimuli. The condition can also cause “hunched over postures” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Stiff person syndrome typically begins in the middle of a person’s body. The cramping and stiffness begins in the abdomen and then spreads to the arms and legs.
The spasms are “quite severe. These can cause falls, severe pain and significant disability,” according to Dr. Emile Sami Moukeiber of the Stiff Person Syndrome Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Falls from severe spasms are very common. These spasms can be precipitated by startle, severe emotions, cold weather.”
The muscle spasms can sometimes even fracture bones.
Even things such as “street noises, […] the sound of a car horn, can trigger spasms and falls.” The constant fear of a spasm occurring causes anxiety in most people suffering from stiff person syndrome.
The anxiety aspect has certainly affected Dion, as she has made drastic changes to her daily life and career due to the condition.
Celine Dion Struggled With Muscle Pain
Before being diagnosed, famous singer Celine Dion was suffering greatly. She was particularly suffering from muscle pain and a lack of mobility due to stiff person syndrome.
She announced her diagnosis of the neurological condition in December on her social media.
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“While we’re still learning about this rare condition,” Dion said on social media, “we now know this is what’s been causing all the spasms that I’ve been having.”
Dion went on to explain how tasks she previously took for granted were now nearly impossible to replicate. She found it particularly challenging to sing, as singing is a full body effort. This not only affected her career, since singing is her profession, but it also took away something that is extremely important to her identity.
The spasms affected “every aspect” of her life. She continued on her social media to say the condition “sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to. It hurts me to tell you this today.”
Despite having the answer of a diagnosis, Dion faced a long road ahead. She was in a great deal of pain and had intensive physical therapy sessions every day.
Unfortunately, Dion was forced to cancel several performances in December 2022 due to stiff person syndrome. She hoped at the time that with physical therapy she would be able to return to the stage in time for her Courage World Tour.
Celine Dion Canceled 2023 Tour Due To Health Concerns
Though Celine Dion had hoped that canceling shows in December 2022 would give her enough of a break to heal, that was not the case. Her stiff person syndrome continues to affect her everyday life and, unfortunately, her career.
As she continues to face constant muscle pain and severe body spasms, Dion was forced to take drastic measures.
Dion announced in late May 2023 that her Courage World Tour would be canceled. This cancelation includes all 2023 and 2024 dates. She announced the news on her social media, detailing what shows would no longer be occurring and giving a heartfelt apology to her fans.
“It is with tremendous disappointment that we have to announce today the cancelation of the Courage World Tour,” she wrote. “I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%.”
“It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again. I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!”
Dion made sure to note in her social media post that all tickets purchased for the Courage World Tour would be refunded.
Fans were heartbroken by the news. Dion was sent an immense amount of support and well-wishes from her fans and others online.
Fans can only hope that Dion is able to overcome stiff person syndrome and return to center stage. Until then, it seems the neurological condition has put her career and life’s work on pause.
