Celine Dion is back from hell

• Two years after announcing she was suffering from the unbearable stiff man syndrome, the singer caused a stir by opening the Olympics from the Eiffel Tower
• “I was holding onto chairs and tables. I was breaking rivers from spasms. I was using lethal doses of diazepam,” the pop star admitted.

“I will return to the stage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands, I will. I am Celine Dion and my voice will be heard for the first time, not just because I have to or because I have to. It’s because I want it and I miss it. “

That was the request of the Canadian pop star, who announced to the world in December 2022 that he had been suffering from Stiff Man Syndrome (SPS) for a long time. She said goodbye to her fans, but promised that no matter the cost, she would be back. And indeed he did.

The singer caused quite a sensation at the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris, but somehow remained in the shadow of the scandals from the performance. Celine Dion appeared on the Eiffel Tower and sang Edith Piaf’s “Hymn of Love” from there.

Everyone expected her not to withstand the pressure.

But she surprised everyone by showing that the will and talent of one person is stronger than anything. Moreover, apart from being glamorous at the event and bringing tears to the eyes of all her fans, she then toured her fans on the streets of Paris. Social networks were flooded with videos of her sharing how warmly she responds to every greeting, request for a selfie, picture and crying with joy and respect.

It turned out that Celine Dion’s performance was heroic for another reason as well. She sang live, despite the doctor’s ban and the advice of the music director of the event, because it was a threat to her life. That is the reason

the disease leads to increased awareness to humility

such as noise, touch and emotional stress, which can cause severe muscle spasms and even broken ribs or body stiffness within minutes.

The appearance of the singer at the Olympic Games made thousands of people watch the film about them “I am Celine Dion”, which tells about her amazing life in recent years and the struggle against her harsh judgment. The tape was directed by Irene Taylor and shows how she rose to fame in her native Quebec from a young age, releasing her first album at just 13 years old. After that, he sold more than 250 million records, won 6 Grammy awards and recorded the Oscar-winning song for Titanic.

In the film, the actress talks openly about her diagnosis of Stiff Man Syndrome –

a very rare autoimmune disorder,

which appeared for the first time with her almost 20 years ago It was only in 2022, however, that doctors understood exactly what was the reason for all the complaints and strange spasms.

Although the disease is poorly understood because it affects one in a million people, it is known to damage the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), causing disorders movement The main clinical diagnosis is the stiffness of the muscles of the back, and later also of the limbs. Painful cramps like Dion’s had for years are also appearing.

According to scientists, the disease is the result of an abnormal autoimmune response in the brain and spine. The disease is often accompanied by Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.

People with SPS can be very strict,

walking or jogging, you are afraid to leave the house because street noises, such as honking horns, can cause spasms and falls, experts say. Most people with the disease fall frequently, and because they lack the normal protective reflexes, injuries can be serious.

The main problem is that there is no cure for this disease at this stage. Instead, treatment is provided through various exercises and medications that can slow the progression.

In the film, one of the scenes shows what exactly will happen at this moment for Celine Dion, 56 years old. In the photo, she tentatively but triumphantly returns to the recording studio after her diagnosis. Minutes later, she goes to an appointment with the physical therapist (part of her ongoing treatment plan), but at that point she starts to feel cramps in her legs. Her whole body froze, as if paralyzed, pierced with great pain. The medical team that accompanies her everywhere administers diazepam nasal spray. The problem is that she can repeat the same spasm in minutes. “Every time something like this happens, it makes you feel so uncomfortable,” Dion said later in the film. – I don’t know how to express it…

You don’t like being out of control, you know?”

Then, in an interview with People, he mentioned this scene from the film: “One of the characteristics of the stiff man syndrome is that too much stimulation – whether it’s happiness, sadness, noise or surprise can it is – to send me to a crisis. I was fine then, and then something clicked.”

Strangely, the director is a little horrified when Dion goes into crisis, but he still films the critical moment. After some hesitation, he allows the film to be included in the film.

The Canadian singer decided to show the world what causes this disease to promote and help raise money for research in the hope of finding a cure. The reason is that it is very difficult for her to know the times she is in

the brain disorder affects her vocal cords,

and when she tries to sing, she feels as if someone is choking her and pressing her larynx.

Celine Dion says her condition causes spasms in parts of her body and at times has been so severe that it has broken several of her ribs.

“It could be in the abdomen. It can be in the spine, in the ribs. And when I cook, my fingers or my hands can stay in one place. It’s like a spasm, but it’s like you’re in a situation where you can’t resolve them,” she explains.

And despite all the difficulties, the singer does not give up, but fights every day,

to be better and be close to his fans again. So he works hard with the sports therapist and the voice therapist.

“I want to regain my strength and return to the stage – says the Canadian pop star. – But I have to admit that it is a struggle. All I know is to sing. This is what I have done all my life and it is what I love to do. I miss her a lot. I want to see everyone and be on stage singing to them.”

The singer admits that before she was properly diagnosed, she took near-fatal doses of diazepam, known as Valium in the US, for years. The 56-year-old singer shared that she was able to control the symptoms of the autoimmune neurological disorder. She explained that she had gradually become accustomed to the powerful sedative and at one point she was taking 90 milligrams a day.

“We’ve tried a lot of things, and when you don’t know what’s wrong with you, a drug can kill you,” says Celine Dion. –

90 mg of Valium can kill you. You might stop breathing.

The thing is that my body got used to 20 and 30 and 40 mg, and after that the dose had to be increased. And I needed that.

It was relaxing my whole body.

But how long? In two weeks, in a month? And then it doesn’t work anymore.

I needed more and more. “

Celine Dion was able to cut back on the sedative during the 2022 COVID-19 pandemic because it no longer worked. He stops it in a controlled way with the help of doctors, because he understands that if he does it suddenly, he can die. But then her condition worsens and she has to announce her illness to the whole world.

“I held on to chairs and tables so I wouldn’t fall. I was cracking ribs with spasms. I was having a kind of seizure. I disappeared for hours,” the pop star admitted.

Despite all the problems, Celine Dion does not stop working on every part of her body, but

she has already stopped asking herself why exactly this happened to her,

after all she’s been through so far. First, her husband died of throat cancer on January 14, 2016, and two days later she heard another terrible news – that her brother had also died.

These tests make him even stronger, and now the singer is hoping for a miracle and progress in medicine to find a cure for the disease.