Duncan James has been told it can take "up to two years" for him to regain feeling in his left leg.
Duncan James
The 'Hollyoaks' hunk was rushed to theatre last June after vital fluid from his brain began pouring out of an old surgery wound and almost killed him but, although doctors managed to relieve the trapped nerve in his spine and get the leak under control, he was left with paralysis down his left side.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the TRIC Awards in London on Tuesday (14.03.17), he said: "Hopefully I'll get feeling back in my left leg at some point. The nerve has been severely damaged so it can take up to two years for the nerve to wake back up again. It's been about eight months now. You always have that worry that it won't come back but I'm thankful that I'm still able to work."
The 38-year-old actor - who was forced to delay his start date on the Channel 4 soap in order to have his operation - wishes he didn't have his limp but feels a lot better and is putting his all into physio.
He explained: "Back is much better. It was pretty horrible. I went through a really tough time in life actually where I really had to change the way I was living but these things are sent to test us and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm still doing physio, I'm still numb down my left leg - I still can't feel my left foot."
But the Blue singer has admitted the hardest part of the ordeal is being banned from running.
He said: "I think when you've been quite a physically active person, you take things for granted. I can't run, I can't do any kind of exercise that involves running or spinning. I have to be very careful when I pick things up. You live your life being healthy and fit so when that's taken away from you, you have to listen to your body. Hopefully one day I will be fully fit and well again but at the moment I'm not."
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