It have been a regular Champions League broadcast till in a while prior to 10pm, when one thing erupted within Darrell Currie’s head.Actual Madrid had been in Glasgow to tackle Celtic and, because the face of BT Game’s Scottish soccer protection, he was once presenting greater than 3 hours of are living tv along Michael Owen, Chris Sutton and Gordon Strachan.The programme was once working as easily as any individual who has observed Currie in motion would be expecting. His profession was once on the upward push, having additionally been selected as probably the most hosts of BT Game’s Objectives Display, their try to rival Sky Sports activities’ Football Saturday. Possibly his highest-profile second got here when he coaxed an on-pitch admission from Eden Danger that he was once leaving Chelsea following their Europa League triumph in 2019.Currie’s exhaustive preparation over 25 years had helped him climb the media ladder, however no quantity of study may have braced him for what he felt all over the general section of the display in September 2022.“It felt like a bomb went off in my mind. Like one thing exploded in my head,” he tells The Athletic.It was once the beginning of a well being nightmare, one that implies he has now not offered a tv programme for nearly two years. His profession and, extra importantly, his high quality of lifestyles were wrecked by way of this crippling thriller sickness. He lives in continual ache and has spent tens of hundreds of kilos in search of solutions or treatments, two issues that also elude him and feature led him to darkish puts.
“It felt like a bomb went off in my mind.”@darrellcurrietv was once presenting BT Game’s Champions League protection when the ache first hit.
Two years on, he has slightly been on TV since, is frequently in agony and has spent hundreds searching for solutions.
He tells his tale to @JordanC1107
— The Athletic | Soccer (@TheAthleticFC) July 5, 2024“It’s atypical sitting right here, telling the tale of what has took place to me,” he says. “I wasn’t certain what or when to mention it, as when issues are sophisticated medically you need to inform the correct tale and possibly assist other folks.“My two children, particularly my boy, had been questioning why I hadn’t stated a lot. His pals had observed me on TV and questioned the place I had long gone.“They’d Googled my identify in school as soon as once they had been doing one thing on their folks and the highest seek was once ‘Who does Darrell Currie enhance?’. Now it was once ‘What took place to Darrell Currie?’.”“The second one it took place, I be mindful preserving onto my chair,” says Currie, casting his thoughts again to the instant his lifestyles modified, as he and the pundits round him had been making an attempt to dissect Actual Madrid’s 3-0 victory at Celtic Park.“I felt dizzy, like I used to be going to fall out of my seat and go out. I controlled to complete the chat and get to the damage however I got here off air feeling horrible.“Strolling again to the TV vehicles, it felt like the bottom wasn’t there. I had no actual sense of the place I used to be.”Currie travelled to London the following morning to offer every other Champions League sport, his frame nonetheless reeling.A late-night appointment with a personal GP identified him with labyrinthitis — irritation of the ear.It didn’t allay his fears, because the ache larger over the following 3 weeks, coming to a head whilst presenting protection of Scotland vs Eire at Hampden Park.“I texted the manufacturer all over the second one part asking how lengthy the post-match section was once,” says Currie. “I used to be suffering to get up and each and every time I used to be turning my head to talk to the pundits, I felt like going to faint or fall over.“I take numerous pleasure in my paintings so I might by no means, ever now not end a programme, however that evening the manufacturer noticed one thing was once now not proper with me. He got here into the stadium all over the sport and stated he was once taking it out of my fingers: I used to be being taken off air. It was once the largest weight off my shoulders.”That took place on September 24, 2022 — and it’s the closing time Currie was once in a position to offer are living tv.His legs seized up totally and he pleaded together with his mum to assist him get again to his spouse and children in London that evening, as he feared he would now not get out of sanatorium for a very long time if he was once admitted.As he was once helped out of Euston teach station the following morning with one arm draped round his mum and the opposite round his spouse, Currie knew there was once one thing severely fallacious.The throbbing ache was once too excessive to be an ear an infection, and it was once too ubiquitous to be similar to ripping a disc in his again whilst stepping out of the bathe 4 months previous.It made little sense for somebody with slightly an oz. of fats on them, particularly one married to Jennifer, a pilates and barre trainer. He put it all the way down to the gruelling agenda of the former season — Rangers’ marvel run to the Europa League ultimate intended further shuttle and left him feeling run-down.However no quantity of rehab and physio was once serving to and his ache ranges had been changing into extra continual by way of the day, spreading throughout his whole frame. With docs not able to provide an evidence and Currie now not able to paintings, he was once compelled to take issues into his personal fingers and embark on a global seek for a analysis.Nearly two years later, now 41, he’s nonetheless caught in purgatory — however he has come again from the edge.After a horrific few months on the finish of 2022 and into 2023, Currie may just slightly get away from bed.A decision with a involved physician within the U.S. resulted in him being referred to a expert in Germany who believed he had the early signs of arachnoiditis, an extraordinary, modern inflammatory situation which impacts the a part of the frame that protects the nerves of the mind and the spinal wire.Pushed by way of interest and worry, he joined on-line teams for victims and was once petrified to be told how debilitating the sickness turns into because it worsens, with some experiences describing paralysis and others ranking the ache stage as being now not some distance in the back of bone most cancers.“For the ones few months after that analysis, I’m now not certain I sought after to be alive,” says Currie.“I might communicate to my spouse frequently about, ‘What’s the level in being right here?’ I couldn’t in point of fact see the sunshine of day.“I might by no means have dedicated suicide, as I be mindful talking to Kris Boyd about his charity (the previous Rangers striker’s brother took his personal lifestyles) and I understand how that may be on your circle of relatives, leaving them like that.”However whilst Currie does now not imagine he was once ever with regards to taking his personal lifestyles, he was once considering how he may just restrict the trauma to his circle of relatives by way of discussing it upfront.“I by no means instructed any individual I used to be pondering of it, however I used to be essentially attempting to think about techniques I may just do it — although that was once out of the country so it was once one thing assisted,” he says. “The ache was once horrific. My neck felt damaged, my again felt damaged, my complete frame felt damaged. I may just slightly hang my head up. I used to be wondering the whole lot.“I believe I’m a in point of fact sure individual, in order that wasn’t me. It was once like one thing taking up my frame. My spouse has been an inspiration, pushing me on a daily basis. If it wasn’t for her I essentially don’t assume I might were in a position to stick alive. Any time I used to be in mattress announcing this stuff she would telephone my mum, as though she was once getting me into bother. The 2 of them would communicate some sense into me.“Inside of two or 3 months, I were given my head in combination. I’ve were given two kids — I don’t assume I’d have compromised their lifestyles or made it worse.”
Darrel Currie with spouse Jennifer and kids Georgia (9) and Harrison (12) (Darrell Currie)Within the early months, the indications had been so critical that Currie underwent a brutal process steroid remedy. He was once in any such morbid position that he sought after to organize his children, Georgia (9) and Harrison (12), for the worst. “I be mindful being on the kitchen desk and there have been numerous tears,” he recollects. “I instructed them I used to be in this drugs and that expectantly it is going to make me higher, however it will make me worse. They knew that, by way of even taking the time to speak them thru this, issues had been clearly unhealthy.“My daughter was once in point of fact unhappy and so they had been most definitely being concerned I used to be going to die. I used to be being concerned I used to be going to die. I didn’t inform them that, however I assumed we needed to give them some knowledge to allow them to know this was once going to be a fight and a battle. I believe the steroids stored my lifestyles.”As Currie sits and articulately narrates a timeline of advanced scientific phrases, he does now not glance unwell. However because the lighting fixtures is being adjusted for the interview, it reasons disequilibrium and the room begins spinning.That is knowledge he best stocks afterwards and that is without doubt one of the issues docs have instructed him he faces: he has turn into too adept at hiding his ache and making his situation invisible to the out of doors global when within he’s hurting.It’s why he carries an extended umbrella on sunny days. If truth be told, this can be a strolling stick however he refuses to let it dictate his lifestyles and stay him in mattress as he has discovered the one option to are living with it’s to stay his frame transferring, although each and every stride is punishing.“It’s intense. I take drugs to check out to prevent a few of that nerve ache, however it’s like capturing electrical shocks going thru your frame.“It seems like my muscle tissues are so hectic they may be able to slightly transfer. I’ve weak spot in my legs and thighs when strolling, as though they’re slightly hooked up to my frame. I am getting ache up thru my neck and it’s like I’ve were given irritation in my head.“You’ll procedure ache and I’ve learn so much about how to do this. You need to understand that ache is a sign on your mind. If you’ll attempt to keep an eye on the ones you’ll give you the chance to are living, however it’s there at all times and the dizziness is continuous. Even sitting right here, I don’t really feel moderately strong.”Once he wakes up on a daily basis, he does neck and backbone workout routines prior to making an attempt to get away from bed as his frame feels too brittle to transport.Each evening, he lies on his facet with a pillow between his legs and a warmth pack on his again, which has stripped the outside off his frame and left it crimson uncooked. However it’s the best option to discover a modicum of aid.That aid is helping him fulfil the promise he made to himself a couple of months after being at his lowest ebb: that he would are living as complete a lifestyles as conceivable.“I used to be decided that, although I will be able to’t get again to the previous me, I used to be going to verify I had a excellent lifestyles for my circle of relatives,” he says.
GO DEEPERBehind the scenes with BT Game: McCoist’s celebrations and the BatCam at a rocking Ibrox“I put such a lot effort into on a daily basis, in getting the children to college and their golf equipment, that the majority nights I simply really feel utterly completed. I say to my spouse it seems like I’ve run a marathon. It seems like I’ve now not were given an oz. left.“The youngsters don’t comprehend it, however I’ll be observing along side the pitch or the pool and I will be able to slightly get up. You’re chatting with different folks attempting to not point out it and you’re excusing your self so you’ll come out and in. It’s tricky, because it takes each and every ounce of you to do all the ones issues.“A couple of weeks in the past I had a in point of fact unhealthy spell and at some point I used to be out strolling and I simply couldn’t get house. I used to be a mile away and I may just slightly take every other step. I needed to to find someplace to take a seat and wait on my spouse to return and rescue me an hour and a part later.”Slight development has been made. He has been identified with continual ache and nerve injury in his spinal canal, whilst he’s now operating with Dr Ben Sinclair, who’s the use of his personal reviews of lengthy Covid to assist deal with others. He believes Currie could also be a victim.Buddies directed him to Dr Ian McGuinness, the Qatar nationwide group physician, who has emptied his contacts e book to assist to find the most productive docs and physicians around the globe.“I’ll by no means be capable to thank him sufficient. With out Ian’s enter I don’t assume I might were in a position to get so far as I’ve within the scientific adventure.”One integrated endeavor a cytokine panel with an American physician, which assesses for micro-markers of irritation within the frame. The laboratory phoned urgently and instructed him he will have to discuss to a health care provider straight away as, from the loads of hundreds of panels performed since Covid, his effects had been within the most sensible 5 in step with cent.Analysis has proven that during sufferers with critical Covid, the immune machine can overreact and as an alternative of serving to struggle the virus, it damages the cells and tissues of the frame itself. That may be deadly.He didn’t sign up for the dots on the time, however two weeks prior to Currie injured his again in 2022, he examined sure for Covid.As he has long gone deeper into the investigation and extra assessments were performed, the conclusion his sickness is said to the virus or the following 3 vaccines he took has grown more potent.“After the primary vaccine I were given horrible tinnitus in my ears inside 12 hours, so it was once certainly a side-effect,” he says. “I went to peer my GP and so they stated there weren’t any (recognized side-effects) on the time, because it was once so new. The media had been probably the most first to get the vaccines as we had been allowed to shuttle and paintings. I puzzled whether or not I will have to take every other however I did, as I needed to paintings.“That is most likely the beginning of the tale. After the second one and 3rd vaccines I had bizarre emotions — pins and needles up my fingers, throughout my face, it felt like my tongue was once vibrating, my jaw was once infrequently transferring and I had complications. Now docs say the ones are indicators of delicate allergies.“Did the Covid vaccines doubtlessly have an effect on my immune machine and so, after I then were given Covid, may just my frame now not react? Was once it immune failure, attacking itself? Numerous docs I’m seeing now really feel that’s what took place.”Currie has waited to talk about his struggling partially as a result of he was once involved concerning the tone of the dialog round Covid vaccines and the eye it would draw in.
Darrell Currie stated that, even six months in the past, he may just now not have performed this interview (The Athletic)“I best posted on social media a few instances concerning the ache and dizziness however there have been hundreds of other folks getting into contact with tales which sound very similar to me,” he provides.The United Kingdom’s Workplace for Nationwide Statistics reported that, in March 2023, round 1.9 million other folks residing in non-public families in the United Kingdom had been experiencing self-reported lengthy Covid signs.“This is simply those who know,” he provides. “There may well be a number of other folks like me who’ve been instructed they’ve one thing like fibromyalgia or MS or some neurological situation, when in truth it might be one thing post-vaccine or Covid itself.“What I do know is there are numerous other folks struggling.”There’s frustration at being put on a nine-month ready checklist to get admission to the NHS’ lengthy Covid services and products after which being taken off it, for causes that stay unclear to him.He has paid for personal remedy, talking to round 30 docs the world over and present process the similar choice of MRI scans, which has created a way of claustrophobia.Determined to give a boost to his high quality of lifestyles, he underwent monoclonal antibody remedy a couple of months in the past, injections which attempt to assault the spike proteins that exist within the frame from Covid and the vaccines.There’s an be offering at the desk to embark on a riskier experimental remedy, which comes to six weeks of triple antibiotics being infused intravenously into the bloodstream within the hope it will probably flush out any underlying bacterial infections, together with Lyme illness, which has additionally been advised as a conceivable contributor.He has to weigh up the risk to his lifestyles but in addition his circle of relatives price range, as his house has already been remortgaged.“There’s a level the place you wonder whether you need to forestall looking, as it’s so pricey. It isn’t simple with cash. My spouse is operating in point of fact exhausting and we’re seeking to give the children the most productive lifestyles conceivable.“Similarly, when persons are announcing there may be the chance this may paintings, it’s so exhausting now not to check out it. I used to be with a rheumatologist who instructed me there was once somebody in 4 weeks in the past who was once in a wheelchair and now they’re working after it. You get those tales. The docs are telling the reality, however I do know they may not paintings for me.“Numerous our lifestyles financial savings were spent on looking for a option to are living. My folks were in point of fact supportive. They don’t need me to surrender. It could be simple to surrender and say that is most definitely lengthy Covid however I wish to are living the most productive lifestyles I will be able to.”Currie has won enhance from such a lot of other folks, together with within the soccer trade. Amongst those that were an excellent emotional enhance is TNT Sports activities presenter Lynsey Hipgrave, whilst Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney presented to return on a stroll with him after listening to of his situation. Best friend McCoist assessments in as soon as a month and the pair were on a couple of walks in combination.“You’re employed with other folks for years and also you take to each other with them while you stand subsequent to them however you don’t essentially see them so much,” says Currie.“Steve McManaman is an absolute gent. Every now and then he will get at the teach from up north all the way down to London simply because he is aware of I would like somebody to stroll with for a few hours.“He has been so, so type providing me assist and enhance.”Closing summer season, Jake Humphrey selected to step down as BT Game’s lead presenter, liberating up the coveted Champions League function which Currie would without a doubt were a contender for.“Issues had been going smartly,” he says. “I’d love to assume I might were regarded as for probably the most most sensible jobs. Who is aware of?“That was once tricky in the beginning however it were given so unhealthy so briefly my actual center of attention was once on staying alive, so I didn’t give that an terrible lot of idea. I nonetheless pass over it however I’m seeking to recognize what I will be able to do.‘That considered, ‘That may have been me in that seat or status pitchside’ hasn’t in point of fact been on my thoughts.”Currie is indebted to TNT Sports activities for permitting him to proceed operating in a unique function as a specialist, serving to the manufacturing group and nonetheless interviewing footballers remotely.A spotlight was once Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard gifting him a signed blouse after their chat, which has helped give him a way of function once more.“I be mindful the docs speaking about ‘the only in step with cents’ and if you’ll stay on getting one in step with cent higher each and every few months they upload up. I believe I’ve.“There’s no manner I may have even sat right here and spoken to you 18 months, a 12 months or most definitely even six months in the past.“I don’t know if I’m going to get again to who I used to be. I’ve authorized that, however I’m going to present it a bloody excellent try to give you the chance to stay residing.”(Best photograph: Craig Foy/SNS Crew by means of Getty Pictures)
