Celine Dion decision to scrap her world tour due to a pre-existing health conditionprompted questions about her little known illness.
The singer suffers from stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition which causes intense muscle pain and issues with co-ordination. Celine informed her fans earlier this week that her Courage World Tour was no longer possible due to the debilitating nature of her symptoms.
The Canadian native was due to perform in Dublin's 3Arena over two nights in April before news of her health setback broke. Her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a chronic illness with no known cure, was confirmed back in December.
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The main symptoms of the disease include muscle stiffness and spasms, which likely would hinder Celine from performing live. People usually experience difficulty with walking as the illness progresses and become more prone to falls and other injuries.
Celine has spoken candidly about her illness in the past and has vowed to use her time off to focus on her wellbeing. She assured fans following news of the cancelled tour she was "working hard" to build her strength back up.
She said in a statement: "'I'm so sorry to disappoint all of you once again... and even though it breaks my heart, it's best that we cancel everything until I'm really ready to be back on stage... I'm not giving up… and I can't wait to see you again."
Fortunately, treatments are available to alleviate the pain associated with the condition and ensure better quality of life. Medication and immunotherapy can give patients improved mobility while fighting the disease.
Therapies such as massage and heat therapy are also recommended for managing symptoms. People with the illness are often highly sensitive to noise and touch, which can trigger muscle spasms.
Stiff person syndrome is twice as likely to affect women in comparison to men. The disease can occur at any age, but onset is most common amongst people in their 30s and 40s.
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