Lead singer of the alternative rock band Everclear, Art Alexakis, went public with his multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2019. However, Alexakis is still making music, writing memoirs, and touring. Some of his newer music even addresses his MS diagnosis.
Alexakis was first diagnosed with MS after getting in a severe car accident three years before 2019. His car was totaled, but no one was seriously injured. Alexakis went to the doctor for what he thought was a pinched nerve, but it turned out the tingling and numbness in his arm was because of multiple sclerosis. He did have a pinched nerve, but his MRI showed damage to his spinal cord.
After his MS diagnosis, Alexakis said some of the things he’d been feeling started to make sense. What he thought was happening because of age or a misspent youth was actually symptomatic of MS.
The doctors told Alexakis that he’d had a form of multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for anywhere from 10 to 20 years. For three years, Alexakis kept the diagnosis to himself. After publicly sharing his diagnosis, though, Alexakis had gotten used to MS being another part of his life. He says that he’s truly learned what the word gratitude means.
Alexakis says that, of course, the diagnosis had been an adjustment, but that’s part of the process. He has adjusted to a lot of things that have ultimately helped his health. He’s focused on his health, diet, exercise, and dealing with his fatigue. Since the diagnosis, Alexakis has become more self-aware and in tune with what his body needs. In the end, Alexakis says getting in a bad car accident was a blessing in disguise. Without it, he wouldn’t have gotten an MS diagnosis until the disease had progressed much further.