Former "Teen Mom" star Jenelle Evans disclosed that she is experiencing "excruciating pain" and has been unable to walk due to a rare neurological condition. Evans revealed on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
In an emotional Instagram video, Evans, 34, described her struggle, stating that the pain extends from the base of her skull to her tailbone and is present daily. The condition developed after knee surgery in April, following which her leg did not improve. A doctor confirmed the CRPS diagnosis and referred her to a pain management clinic.
She explained that a steroid injection in her lower back, administered about two weeks prior, exacerbated her pain significantly. Evans recently sought hospital care over the weekend due to severe lower back, middle back, and neck pain.
CRPS is a chronic pain condition that typically affects an arm or a leg, often developing after an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack, according to the Mayo Clinic.
During her hospital visit, an MRI revealed a syrinx, a fluid-filled cyst, on her spine that had grown from two millimeters to four millimeters. A second cyst was also found very close to her spine. Evans stated that this syrinx is the root cause of her CRPS and, if it continues to grow, could lead to paralysis.
Evans expressed frustration, claiming she reported suspected spinal cysts to doctors in 2022 but felt her concerns were ignored. She is currently unable to walk on her leg due to frequent flare-ups, and the worsening back pain now makes using her crutches difficult.
"I just want to be better," Evans tearfully pleaded, describing the situation as the most challenging period of her life because she has not been able to recover as she has in the past. She noted that her limited mobility restricts her activities, making even simple outings difficult.
Evans has a history of health issues. In March 2022, she was hospitalized with suspected chest pain and later indicated her blood results suggested a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder. Earlier that same month, she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition causing widespread pain and fatigue. At the time, she stated that she had long experienced severe headaches and full-body aches, often feeling like she had the flu without being sick, and that it took a second opinion from a new neurologist for her symptoms to be believed.