According to the French Canadian singer, her condition causes her muscles to spasm uncontrollably.
She said that she has had difficulties singing and walking, and will not be able to perform planned shows in Europe and the UK next year.
Dion said, “I have been struggling with health problems for a while.”
The 54-year old said, “And it’s been really hard for me to face these difficulties and to talk about all that I’ve been through,” in an emotionally charged video.
“Recently, I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome. It affects about one in a million people.
“While we are still studying this rare condition, we now know that it is the cause of all my spasms.”
She said, “Unfortunately, these spasms effect every aspect of my day, sometimes causing problems when I walk, and not allowing my vocal chords the ability to sing as I used to.”
“It hurts to tell you that I will not be able to resume my tour in Europe in February.”
The diva, whose song My Heart Will Go On from Titanic won the Oscar for best music, said that she would put her career on hold while Rene Angelil battled with cancer.
Even though her performances were resumed one year later, she left the stage in early 2016 after the tragic deaths Angelil and Daniel Dion.
The 2019 studio album Courage was her return, featuring collaborations with Sia and Sam Smith.
The record was supported by a worldwide tour that the star performed on, but large parts of which were delayed due to the Covid epidemic. After suffering “severe, persistent muscle spasms”, she had to cancel the dates. This also delayed her return to Las Vegas.
Many of these shows, including those in London, Glasgow, Manchester, and Manchester, have been pushed back, while others were cancelled.
On Thursday, Dion assured her fans that she has “a great team o doctors working alongside me” to get better while her “precious kids” were “supporting and giving me support”.
She said, “I work hard with my sports medicine specialist every day to rebuild my strength and my ability again to perform. But it has been difficult.”
“All that I know is singing. It’s something I have done all my adult life, and it’s what makes me happy.
“I miss you so much. It was so nice to see you all and be on stage performing for you.
“I always give 100 percent when I do my show, but my condition isn’t allowing me to give that right now.”
The singer, who was no longer able to contain her emotions, thanked fans for their support and stressed that she could not focus on her health at the moment. She also expressed gratitude to the audience, stating that she would be on the “road to recovery” and she is grateful for their support.
SPS is rare and poorly understood.
The National Institute for Neurological Disorders describes it as “fluctuating muscular rigidity in trunk and limbs, and a heightened sense of stimuli such noise, touch, or emotional distress that can trigger muscle spasms.”
They also noted that abnormal postures, such as hunched over or stiffened, were a hallmark of the disorder.
People with SPS may be too paralysed to move or walk, or afraid of leaving the house. Street noises such as the sound a horn can trigger spasms or falls.
“SPS patients are more likely to fall because they lack the normal reflexes for protecting themselves. Injuries can be very severe.”
Although there is no cure, there are some treatments that can slow down the progression of SPS.
