Blue star I feared I’d be left crippled
Former boyband star Duncan James feared he would never walk again af ter two emergency operations on his back.
Blue singer Duncan, 38, fi r st had surger y in June after his left leg went numb.
An MRI scan revealed a t rapped ner ve , which doctors say would have died without surgery.
The surgery was apparently successful but then Duncan was taken ill in a terrifying incident at his mum Fiona’s house.
He said: “I was getting headaches like I’ve never had. I could feel a swelling in my back. I could feel pressure on my wound.
“Suddenly I’m soaking wet. My back had opened, and all this f luid was just pouring out of me.”
The f luid came from Duncan’s brain and spine and doctors performed another emergency op.
Now, two months on from the drama, the star is preparing to make his debut as policeman Ryan Knight on the soap Hollyoaks.
His introduction had to be postponed because of his illness.
Duncan is still unable to walk properly and is using a stick between scenes. But he’s thankful to be alive.
He said: “Doctors told me I could have spent the rest of my life in a wheelchair – or died.
“The feeling in my leg may take years to come back – and it may never return. I’ve always been active but I‘ve been told to dramatically change my lifestyle.”