Did you know that Selma Blair once advised Christina Applegate to undergo testing for multiple sclerosis (MS) after noticing a particular symptom?

In August 2021, 53-year-old Applegate revealed her diagnosis of MS - a chronic, incurable condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.

The MS Society estimates that over 150,000 individuals in the UK are living with the disease, and the MS Trust reports that an estimated 7,100 people receive this diagnosis each year.

Since disclosing her diagnosis, Applegate has been candid and transparent about her health journey.

Previously, she shared how her illness had deeply affected her 14-year-old daughter, Sadie, and has outlined some of the symptoms she has been facing over the years.

Applegate also mentioned that the chronic condition frequently leaves her 'screaming in bed' due to pain, likening it to a ‘vice grip that won’t release’.

Christina Applegate (left) has credited Selma Blair (right) for assisting her in getting diagnosed with MS (KMazur/WireImage)

In 2023, the four-time Golden Globe nominee acknowledged her Sweetest Thing co-star, Selma Blair, 53, as a significant influence in her diagnosis journey.

In an interview with British Vogue, Applegate recalled sitting with her children in her lifelong friend's living room when she was urged to seek medical advice.

"I told Selma I’d been feeling a strange tingling in my feet. She said, 'You must get tested for MS.' [Even my doctor doubted it] but it was confirmed," she explained.

The Dead to Me star continued: "In essence, because of her, I’m going to have a better quality of life."

In the same conversation, Blair expressed that she never thought she could 'make a difference' in anyone’s life by merely being honest about her MS experiences.

"But when others with mobility aids supported me on the red carpet with a cane during an MS flare, I noticed," she added.

"I felt empowered to share. … Now it’s a deliberate choice to do so."

The Cruel Intentions actress said it is now a 'deliberate choice' to share her health challenges with others (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Travel + Leisure)

While Applegate continues her battle with MS, Blair, who was diagnosed with the condition in August 2018, shared what it feels like to be in remission for the past four years.

"A few years ago, I didn’t think I’d be here..." the Cruel Intentions star said during an interview with TODAY in February. "It’s been a long journey to learn a new normal."

Though she previously felt she had to ‘fake it till she [made] it’, Blair admitted she is now ‘finding her way back’.

Common symptoms of MS

Itchy feet aren’t the only symptom of MS to be aware of, according to the NHS.

Other common symptoms include extreme fatigue, muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness, sexual issues like a dry vagina, and challenges with memory or focus.

Individuals with this disorder may also experience blurred vision, eye pain, as well as sensations of imbalance, dizziness, or clumsiness.

There are no definitive tests for diagnosing MS, but doctors may conduct blood tests and possibly a lumbar puncture.

While there is no cure, MS patients may be offered physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and/or mobility aids to assist with movement.