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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
World
Ramazani Mwamba

Stiff person syndrome - what is it and what are the symptoms?

Canadian popstar Celine Dion has recently cancelled her Manchester tour date after being diagnosed with a rare disorder. Dion took to Instagram to tell fans about the problems she has been facing after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) which has caused her to have spasms and difficulty with her singing.

What is the disorder and what are the symptoms?

SPS is a neurological disorder that can leave a person with muscle spasms and sensitivity to loud noises. The disorder is extremely rare and is said to affect twice as many women as men. It can cause people to be stuck inside, terrified to go outdoors because street noises can trigger spasms and falls.

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SPS is associated with autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia. Experts do not know what triggers SPS yet but research has shown that it is caused by issues within the brain and spinal cord.

There is no cure for the disorder just yet but it is treated with medicine such as muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety drugs and pain relievers. Doctors say that with the right treatment the illness can be controlled.

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Celine was scheduled to perform at the Manchester AO Arena in April next year but has now pushed that dates to 2024. Dion took to Instagram to announce the postponement of her tour on Instagram by a video addressed to her fans.

In the heartfelt video addressed to fans, Celine says: "’I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through…It hurts me to tell you that I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February."

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