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Canadian singer Celine Dion said on Thursday she had been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff-Person Syndrome that causes muscle spasms and had led her to postpone some European shows.

The 54-year-old posted a video to Instagram revealing the diagnosis and explaining that her Courage World Tour had been rescheduled from spring 2023 to 2024.

Stiff-Person Syndrome causes muscle rigidity and incr­eased sensitivity to sound, touch and emotional stimuli that can catalyse muscle spasms.

Dion’s muscle spasms led her to postpone her Las Vegas residency in October last year. However, the star hasn’t publicly shared a diagnosis until now.

“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” she said. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”

The ‘My heart will go on’ singer said that while she misses her fans, her health is her focus right now. “I’m working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again,” she said. “But I have to admit it’s been a struggle.” Thanking her fans for their support, she became emotional. “All I know is singing,” the Grammy winner said.

While Dion’s spring 2023 shows will be rescheduled for the following year, eight summer 2023 shows have been cancelled.

Originally published in Dawn, December 9, 2022