Mumbai: Actor and television personality Archana Puran Singh has drawn attention to a little-known neurological disorder after her son, Ayushmaan Sethi, revealed that she has been living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a condition specialists say can permanently alter daily functioning if not addressed early.
In an emotional Instagram Reel, Ayushmaan spoke about his mother’s strength and determination, sharing that she developed CRPS following a wrist injury sustained in 2025 while working on the sets of Vicky Vidya Ka Wo Wala Video. The injury, he said, resulted in lasting damage to her hand and ongoing pain. Despite this, Archana continued to fulfil professional commitments, including acting in films, working on a web series, and launching her own YouTube channel in her early sixties.
Medical experts explain that CRPS is a chronic pain disorder in which the body’s pain response becomes abnormally amplified. According to research cited by the US National Institutes of Health, the condition typically emerges after an injury, surgery or fracture, but the pain experienced is far more intense and persistent than expected. In some cases, it may even appear without a clear cause.
Dr Neha Kapoor, Associate Director and Head of Neurology at Asian Hospital, described CRPS as a serious malfunction of the nervous system rather than a problem rooted in muscles or bones. “In CRPS, the nervous system fails to shut down pain signals after the original injury has healed,” she explained. “As a result, the brain and spinal cord continue to send exaggerated pain messages, leading to long-term discomfort and loss of function.”
Patients often report pain that feels burning, stabbing or throbbing and is disproportionate to the initial trauma. Dr Kapoor noted that even light touch or minor temperature changes can provoke severe pain, a symptom known as allodynia. Alongside pain, visible changes may occur in the affected limb, including swelling, abnormal sweating, altered skin colour and temperature differences when compared to the unaffected side.
CRPS is classified into two forms. Type I occurs without confirmed nerve injury, while Type II follows documented nerve damage. Although distinct in definition, both types are driven by abnormal nerve signalling and disrupted pain regulation.
Doctors caution that if the condition progresses, it can lead to muscle wasting, joint stiffness and irreversible loss of mobility. “Once CRPS becomes chronic, full recovery is often unlikely because the nervous system undergoes lasting structural and functional changes,” Dr Kapoor said.
Diagnosis remains challenging, as there is no single test that confirms the disorder. Physicians rely on clinical assessment, symptom patterns and the elimination of other conditions. Imaging studies may support the process but cannot definitively establish CRPS. Early recognition, specialists stress, is key to improving long-term outcomes.
Treatment focuses on managing pain and preserving movement through physiotherapy, medications aimed at nerve pain and, in certain cases, interventional procedures. Mental health support also plays a crucial role, given the emotional strain associated with chronic pain.
“CRPS does not threaten life, but it can profoundly change it,” Dr Kapoor added. “Raising awareness is vital so that patients do not ignore persistent pain or dismiss it as psychological. Timely intervention can make a meaningful difference.”
Archana Puran Singh’s experience has now brought wider attention to a condition that often goes undiagnosed, highlighting the importance of resilience, medical awareness and early care in coping with long-term pain disorders.
