After shocking millions of fans worldwide by revealing her stiffness condition, Canadian singer Celine Dion shared some of the struggles she faces due to "stiff person syndrome" and the painful symptoms she endures. In an interview with NBC News, she expressed that she experiences daily spasms, causing her severe pain, stating: "The spasms can be in the abdomen, in the spine, and in the ribs," revealing that "this condition has led to broken ribs."
She explained that singing with stiff person syndrome makes her feel as if "someone is choking her." When asked how she feels when trying to sing while dealing with this condition, she replied: "It feels like someone is pressing on your throat," noting that it is difficult for her to control her vocal pitch due to the muscle spasms caused by the illness. This comes after months of her affirming her determination to return to the stage to sing and perform again.
It is worth mentioning that the 56-year-old singer was diagnosed with the rare and incurable neurological autoimmune disorder "stiff person syndrome" in 2022 and was forced to cancel all her upcoming tour dates as a result. This syndrome affects one in a million people approximately, causing severe pain and difficulty in movement, which prevents engaging in physically strenuous activities. Dion previously revealed in an interview with French magazine Vogue that she follows a "sports, physical, and vocal therapy" regimen five days a week to work on her body and voice.
"Amazon Prime Video" announced plans to release a documentary about the singer titled "I Am: Celine Dion," which aims to "raise awareness" about her illness.
