Selma Blair opens up about her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and the overlooked symptoms that led to her struggle with walking and talking. Learn more about MS and its impact.
Selma Blair, the beloved actress best known for her roles in Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions, recently shared her journey with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the overlooked symptoms she had been suffering from for years. Blair’s experience sheds light on the complexity of diagnosing MS, a chronic autoimmune condition that affects nearly 1 million people in the United States alone.
A Long Struggle with Unexplained Symptoms
In October 2018, Selma Blair publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with MS just two months prior. However, her symptoms date back much earlier—Blair had been dealing with various health issues since childhood. One of the most overlooked symptoms she faced was optical neuritis, a condition that causes pain, vision loss, and inflammation of the optic nerve.
“I’ve had symptoms for as long as I can remember, especially with my eyesight,” Blair shared in a recent appearance on the UK daytime show This Morning. She explained that despite the pain and vision problems, doctors at the time misdiagnosed her condition as a “lazy eye.”
Optical neuritis is common in MS patients and is marked by painful eye movements and temporary vision loss. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked or misdiagnosed as something less serious.
The Hidden Symptoms of MS
Blair also revealed that during her youth, she faced several other debilitating symptoms, such as chronic headaches, fever, and “drop leg”—a condition that causes weakness in one leg. Despite these struggles, Blair’s symptoms were often misinterpreted as signs of depression.
“I spent my life seeing doctors, trying to figure out why I was so tired,” Blair explained. “But it was really misdiagnosed as depression. Extreme fatigue can often look like depression, so I just accepted it.”
This misdiagnosis left Blair feeling as if her struggles were “all in her head,” further complicating her journey to an accurate MS diagnosis.
.jpg)
A New Chapter: Remission and Hope
In August 2021, Blair announced that her MS was in remission and that no new lesions were forming in her brain. However, in a recent TODAY interview, Blair clarified that her remission has not been relapse-free. She has had to continue managing her condition, but with the help of a new treatment that has improved her symptoms.
“I want to show people that even though you get a hard diagnosis, it doesn’t have to mean a death sentence,” Blair said. “There are ways to lighten the load, and if I can help lighten the load for others, I’m happy to do so.”
Blair’s openness about her condition has brought attention to the challenges of living with MS and the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Support for MS Patients
If you or someone you know is dealing with MS or similar health challenges, it’s crucial to seek support and proper medical advice. The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) offers help through their helpline at (800) 532-7667, extension 154, or you can email [email protected]
for further assistance.
