Christina Applegate’s Shock MS Misdiagnosis: What Patients Should Know

Christina Applegate’s doctor told her she did not have multiple sclerosis, but the news brought no relief from the disabling symptoms that have increasingly restricted her life.

The Emmy-winning actor revealed on her “MeSsy” podcast that new technology showed she had been misdiagnosed after publicly living with MS since 2021. Applegate, who retired from acting after Dead to Me, now faces renewed uncertainty about the illness causing her symptoms.

“This may come as great news, but to me, I’m back at square one,” Applegate said. “You don’t get misdiagnosed and then all of the sudden I’m better.”

Applegate said her condition has worsened in some respects. She recently needed 10 minutes to get out of bed, nearly could not walk to the bathroom and now keeps a walker beside her bed.

A changing diagnosis can be frightening without necessarily indicating that a clinician acted improperly.

“A changing diagnosis can feel unsettling, but it does not necessarily mean that anyone did something wrong,” Soma Mandal, M.D., medical director of Women’s Health at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, tells First for Women.

“Medicine is often a process: symptoms can evolve, new test results can provide a clearer picture, and some conditions can resemble one another early on,” she explains.

“Patients should feel comfortable saying, I understand that my diagnosis may have changed. Can you walk me through what information led you to that conclusion, what diagnoses you are considering now and what the plan is to get more clarity?’” she adds. “This keeps the conversation focused on understanding, not confrontation.”

“Every patient deserves the opportunity to seek a second opinion,” Sarah Wade, a board-certified physician assistant and founder of The Foodie Fit Mom, tells First for Women.

“I encourage patients to bring a clear timeline of their symptoms, a summary of previous testing, relevant imaging studies and reports, and a list of questions or concerns they still have,” Wade says.

“One of the benefits of seeking a specialist’s opinion is that the evaluation doesn’t necessarily have to start from square one. The specialist can review the previous workup, identify potential gaps, and determine whether additional testing or evaluation is warranted,” she says.

Patients should also obtain their complete records, including physicians’ notes, laboratory and pathology results, imaging reports and the imaging files themselves. A symptom diary documenting changes in vision, balance, sensation, pain, fatigue or cognition may reveal patterns over time.

Mandal agrees that an “organized medical timeline is one of the most useful tools a patient can bring.”

“It can be helpful to bring a trusted family member or friend to the appointment, especially if the information feels overwhelming,” she says. “Ask them to take notes, and do not hesitate to request that the clinician explain medical terms in plain language.”

Ultimately, patients should seek out specialists for second opinions when they’re warranted.

“Patient advocacy isn’t about challenging your healthcare provider,” Wade says. “It’s about being an informed, active participant in your own healthcare.”

And while a misdiagnosis can be frustrating, that alone does not establish medical malpractice, attorney Brooke Bremmer tells First for Women.

“Medicine involves judgment, and some conditions are genuinely hard to identify. The legal question is whether the doctor acted the way a reasonably careful doctor would have in the same situation, and whether that failure actually caused harm,” Bremmer says.

She also advises keeping a detailed timeline of symptoms, appointments and treatments, and requesting your complete medical records.

“If a diagnostic error caused real harm, such as delayed treatment, unnecessary treatment, or a worsened condition, a patient may be able to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Patients can also file a complaint with their state medical board or the hospital’s patient advocate, though those processes are separate from a legal claim,” she says.

“Every state has its own rules for medical negligence cases, and the deadlines can be short,” she says. “Many states also require special steps before a case can even be filed, such as an expert review. Getting advice early protects your options!”

Although Applegate said she felt she had “let everybody down,” she told listeners she remains committed to the MS community she joined through her original diagnosis.

“I’m still your warrior,” she said, “and I’m still going to speak out on your behalf forever and ever.”