Céline Dion has revealed that she suffered from such severe muscle spasms that she broke her ribs, due to suffering from stiff person syndrome. In her first televised interview since her diagnosis, given to Hoda Kotb of NBC News, Dion said, «I had broken ribs at one point, because sometimes, when it’s very severe…» Kotb asked her, «Can you have spasms so strong that you break a rib?» Dion nodded in agreement.
Dion further explained that when she has muscle spasms in her throat, «it’s like someone is strangling you, like someone is pushing your larynx,» and she can only speak at a certain tone when she has spasms. «But it can also be in the abdominal area, in the spine, in the ribs,» she added, describing cramps in her hands: «It’s a cramp, but it’s like it’s in a position where, it seems, you can’t unlock them.»
Dion was diagnosed with this rare and incurable syndrome in 202 and was forced to postpone live performances. She previously stated that it «causes me difficulties when I walk and does not allow me to use my vocal cords to sing as I am used to.»
In an interview given to Vogue France in April, she stated that she undergoes physical and vocal therapy five times a week. She acknowledged feelings of despair, but also stated that she is trying to work again for a singing career.
«At first I wondered: why me? How did this happen? What did I do? Is it my fault?» she said. «Life doesn’t give you any answers. You just have to live it! I have this disease for an unknown reason. As I see things, I have two options. Either I train like an athlete and work very hard, or I disconnect and it’s over, I stay home, listen to my songs, stand in front of the mirror and sing. I chose to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be as good as possible. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again! … I have this strength in me. I know that nothing will stop me.»
