Growing Spinal Cysts
Jenelle Evans Details Growing Spinal Cysts and Severe Daily Pain After Surgery
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Evans said doctors first used an MRI to rule out an abscess potentially caused by the steroid injection before discovering the enlarging syrinx and additional cyst.
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She said she still cannot bear weight on the affected leg and that it repeatedly flares up, underscoring the ongoing impact of CRPS on her mobility.
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Evans said her doctors diagnosed CRPS after her leg failed to improve following left-knee surgery, and that she was subsequently referred to a pain-management clinic.
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The Cleveland Clinic describes CRPS as a neurological condition whose symptoms can interfere with limb function, sleep, daily activities and mental health; it distinguishes Type 1, which occurs without confirmed nerve damage, from Type 2, which involves nerve damage.
Teen Mom alum Jenelle Evans is battling complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after April knee surgery left her in severe, daily pain. Pagesix reported that Evans cannot walk and described the condition as causing "excruciating" pain. An MRI revealed her spinal cyst doubled in size — from 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters — and a new cyst appeared alongside it. Doctors warned the enlargement could risk paralysis.
Evans said a steroid injection meant to treat CRPS backfired and worsened her back pain, landing her in the hospital. GeoTV notes that CRPS is a rare chronic pain condition developing after injury or surgery, causing pain far worse than the original injury. Evans reported pain radiating from her leg through her back and neck, along with headaches and difficulty finding comfortable positions. She is seeing a therapist to cope with the emotional toll.
What Happened After Her Knee Surgery
Evans had left-knee surgery in April and expected recovery. ArchyNetys reported that instead of healing, her leg failed to improve. Doctors diagnosed her with CRPS after the surgery didn't lead to normal recovery. She was then referred to a pain-management clinic for specialized care.
The steroid injection doctors gave to treat CRPS made things worse. TVInsider reported that the injection prompted severe lower back pain, forcing Evans to seek emergency hospital care. An MRI ruled out an abscess from the injection but found something alarming: spinal cysts that had grown dangerously.
Spinal Cysts Double in Size, Doctors Warn of Paralysis
The MRI showed Evans's existing spinal cyst, called a syrinx, had doubled from 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters. A second new cyst appeared as well. Doctors warned that further enlargement posed a paralysis risk. Evans cannot bear weight on her affected leg and experiences repeated painful flare-ups that worsen her mobility.
Understanding CRPS: A Rare Neurological Condition
CRPS is a rare neurological disorder that develops after injury or surgery. According to the Cleveland Clinic, CRPS symptoms interfere with limb function, sleep, daily activities, and mental health. Type 1 occurs without confirmed nerve damage. Type 2 involves actual nerve damage. Pain is disproportionate to the original injury — far worse than what would normally occur.
Evans battles pain from her leg through her neck plus headaches and mobility loss. Pagesix reported she described feeling hopeless as she manages the condition's emotional weight. She continues physical therapy and mental health treatment while doctors monitor her spinal cysts for further changes.
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