Christina Applegate is looking into whether her breast implants could explain the symptoms she had believed were caused by multiple sclerosis.
The actress, 54, raised the possibility during the November 10th episode of MeSsy, which she cohosts with Jamie-Lynn Sigler. A recent text message referred to what Applegate described as a study of symptoms related to implants that could resemble MS.
Applegate underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2008. She subsequently had breast reconstruction using saline expanders and implants.
She has not reported a confirmed implant leak or a diagnosis of breast implant illness. Applegate said she intends to investigate the possibility with her medical team.
Applegate Says She Has Questioned Her Implants for Years
Applegate said the concern had been on her mind for about five years. “What if they’re leaking and poisoning me?” she recalled wondering, according to Us Weekly. She believes her implants are overdue for replacement, although she has not announced plans for an operation.
The actress has been receiving messages from people suggesting possible explanations for her health problems. As USA Today reported, she described trying to sort through those possibilities while coping with chronic fatigue. She said coordinating the medical tests felt overwhelming.
Pain Makes Getting Out of Bed a Lengthy Process
Applegate said she can no longer move her right shoulder or lift that arm. Sitting up and getting out of bed takes at least 10 minutes because, as she put it, “I just hurt all over.”
She wondered whether sleeping too much could be contributing to her difficulties. Sigler acknowledged that pain could make her want to rest and encouraged her to find ways to move with support.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Applegate attends physical and occupational therapy every week, but going downstairs remains difficult. During her October health update, she had described using a wheelchair at medical appointments because she could not walk from her car into the office.
Applegate acknowledged struggling to follow her therapist’s suggestions, despite recognizing that they were intended to help her psychologically, according to Page Six.
What Is Known About Breast Implant Illness
Breast implant illness describes a collection of symptoms reported by some people with implants. These can include fatigue, joint and muscle pain, weakness and difficulty concentrating. The Cleveland Clinic notes that people have reported such symptoms with both saline-filled and silicone-filled implants.
The exact cause remains unknown, and there is no single established diagnostic test. Healthcare professionals review symptoms and medical history while evaluating other possible causes. Some patients report improvement after implant removal, while others do not.
The FDA says implant lifespan varies from person to person and cannot be predicted. Complications become more likely over time, and some require additional surgery.
Her MS Misdiagnosis Announcement Came in October
Applegate publicly announced her MS diagnosis in August 2021, while working on Dead to Me. On October 20th, 2026, she revealed that her doctor had ruled it out. Other people welcomed the news, but she felt she was starting over, ABC News reported.
She worried about letting down people who had followed her MS advocacy. She later assured listeners that she would continue supporting that community alongside Sigler, who has lived with the disease for decades.
During the November 3rd episode with Jack Osbourne, she said doctors were testing her for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Lyme disease, according to Rolling Stone.