The Rare Condition Affecting Celine Dion [Video]

In heart-rending interviews this week, singer Celine Dion shared insights into her life with the rare health condition, Stiff-Person Syndrome, or SPS. But what exactly is SPS, and how do sufferers such as Dion best cope with it?

As the name indicates, SPS is predominantly characterized by a recurring stiffness of the muscles and uncontrollable, often painful, muscle spasms, which can lead to other problems such as trouble walking, falls, and a gradual curving of the lower back.

A one in a million condition

The stiffness and other symptoms of SPS usually progressively worsen over time, but episodes can come and go in spurts or be sparked by specific triggers, such as the cold, stress, or even touch. There are different forms of SPS, depending on the body parts affected (some, for instance, only experience stiffness along their limbs) and whether certain additional symptoms occur. SPS is …