Selma Blair reveals MS was misdiagnosed by doctors for years

For years, Selma Blair struggled with unexplained pain and crippling fatigue while doctors ignored her symptoms.

Blair explained that although she had experienced symptoms since childhood, she was not diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) until her 40s.

“I was diagnosed with relapsing disease [remitting] In 2018 MS. It turned out that I had my first optic neuritis when I was about seven years old and that I probably had juvenile MS, as the nerve damage left my eye lazy. But there were a lot of things I missed throughout my life,” Blair said at the Flow Space Women’s Health Summit. Diversity.

SELMA BLAIR SAYS SHE IS ‘TRUELY RELAX-FREE’ AFTER A 7-YEAR BATTLE WITH MS

She described years of excruciating pain and countless hospital stays as doctors ignored her symptoms.

“As a child, I had CAT scans, doctor visits, and stays in hospitals for weeks,” Blair recalled. “I have a fever, I have pain, I have a never-ending, bone-crushing fatigue, and I still have it. And my mother said, ‘Why can’t you get an MRI on her?’ he would say.

Selma Blair onstage during the Interview with Selma Blair panel at the Flow Space Women’s Health Summit held at Penske Media Rooftop on October 9, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Michael Buckner/SHE Media via Getty Images)

Recalling the double standards she faced growing up, Blair said: “And they say, ‘Oh, she doesn’t need it. She’s probably menstruating.'” But then a kid from my class came in with a headache and the first thing they did was to have an MRI. So they’re not wrong to do this, but it’s like, ‘What? Because even though I had a constant headache, I looked fine.”

SELMA BLAIR EXPLORES THE MS DIAGNOSIS IN DOCUMENTARY

Selma Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the age of 46. (Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images)

The delayed diagnosis eventually explained years of symptoms that were dismissed by doctors as mere “growing pains.” Blair described how sharing her experience publicly has become a source of comfort and connection for many people living with chronic illnesses.

Blair continued: “I posted this on my Instagram account to thank the people who helped me keep my job on set, because I couldn’t use my hands well, I couldn’t take my clothes off. Even though I don’t have a relapse now, I still sometimes struggle with dystonia, speech and movement.”

DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The “Legally Blonde” star said she continues to learn about MS even seven years after she was diagnosed. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Glamour)

“But when I shared, I saw that there was a whole world out there that felt seen, or was a part of being seen, or could relate to someone who had chronic health issues. I realized that brought comfort to a lot of people. And there weren’t a lot of resources about MS at the time. There was a lot I had to learn. I’m still learning as I live with it, but I saw that it was so much bigger than me… It felt good. It felt good to know that people felt some comfort.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Selma Blair, who was diagnosed with MS in 2018, often walks with a cane at red carpet events. (Getty Images)

The 53-year-old actor, who first announced his MS diagnosis in 2018, announced in April that the symptoms of the chronic autoimmune disease “did not really relapse.”

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

“Legally Blonde” “I’m doing surprisingly well. I’ve been feeling great for about a year.”to” the star said People In that case. “But finally I’m really, really, good enough… I’m always trying to do my best, but now I really have the stamina and the energy and it’s not so scary to go out.”