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Speedy Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm has played just two games in 14 months because of knee, forearm and back injuries.

(AP File Photo)

DETROIT – Dealing with chronic back pain all season was difficult enough for Darren Helm.

But his frustration level peaked when friends, media and family members would innocently ask the Detroit Red Wings veteran forward for an update on his condition.

It got so bad that Helm finally instituted a rule for those closest to him – no more questions about his back, at least on bad days. It didn't do much to help Helm's health but at least it eased the mental stressed caused by the mysterious condition.

"I don't talk about it," Helm said after cleaning out his locker last week. "It gets me frustrated when I talk about it because I don't know. My parents aren't allowed to talk to me about it, my girlfriend's not allowed to talk about it. We just kind of keep it quiet. If I feel good, we talk about it. I am frustrated.

"The day s we don't talk about it I'm optimistic because I do feel good. When I'm not talking about it I'm not upset about it. People just keep talking about it. I'm not going down in the dumps. That's when I start kind of second-guessing things and getting worried about what could happen, what might happen, what might not happen.

"If I just leave it alone and be happy with the progress I'm making and the treatment I'm doing, things are going well. I feel like I'm doing what I can to get healthy.''

Helm originally injured his back while lifting weights Jan. 10 during the NHL lockout.

He missed all of training camp as well as the season opener Jan. 19 in St. Louis but the back never improved no matter what treatment doctors prescribed.

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underwent an MRI but nobody could figure out what was causing the constant pain.

As a result, Helm played in just one regular-season game – a 5-3 victory Jan. 25 over Minnesota – and never suited up in the playoffs despite holding out hope he'd be able to help the Red Wings against Anaheim and Chicago.

Helm finally got some good news after the season ended, when he learned that he won't require offseason surgery and is expected back in training camp next fall.

But to be ready for camp, he's going to need two things – be patient and rest.

"There are days I feel good," Helm said. "I'm getting better slowly. I just feel like I have to get better. I talked to a lot of people and they said is just takes time and you got to stay positive and hope it gets better.

"I've taken it slower. I talked to people who've had back issues. They also don't know what's going on. They just take time. I'm thinking this is going to be one of those. Before we had timelines on where I wanted to be healthy and get out there and play.

"Now I have a few months to work with and get healthy and ready for training camp.''

Helm's absence left several holes in the Red Wings' lineup.

As one of their fastest players, he brings energy to the ice creates havoc for opponents. He's also one of their best penalty killers and averaged 10 goals and 27 points during his first three seasons before hurting his back.

What made the back injury even more frustrating for Helm is he was coming off a pair of injuries that shortened his 2011-12 campaign.

He missed the final 10 games last season after spraining his left MCL and upon returning for Detroit's first playoff game against Nashville, he suffered lacerated tendons in his right forearm after being cut by a skate.

"It's been tough," said Helm, 26. "I want to play hockey. The last year, injuries have been tough for me. I'm kind of curious if I even know how to play hockey anymore. It's been a long time.

"I'm really itching to get healthy and get playing again.''

Although he didn't play, Helm traveled with the Red Wings throughout the playoffs and is excited about what the future holds.

He was encouraged the way youngsters like Brendan Smith, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and Danny DeKeyser played as the Red Wings were forced to rely on rookies when injuries hit Helm, Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson among others.

"It was awesome," he said. "Guys played really good. It made me upset that I couldn't be there but it was great to see a lot of young guys, few guys who have been here, really step up their game, really encouraging for the future., great to watch, can't wait to be a part of it.'

"Smitty started playing really well. I thought (Jakub) Kindl had a great year this year. It was good to see Danny DeKeyser come in and play as well as he did. That's a very bright player that I'm hoping to play with for a long time. Definitely Andersson and Gus coming in and playing as well as they did. It's really exciting to have those guys be part of the Wings in the future."

Outside of Helm himself, perhaps nobody wants to see him back in the lineup more than coach Mike Babcock.

Babcock just hopes Helm is healthy when training camp rolls around.

"He's a young man, we need him," Babcock said. "Two years in a row we didn't have him at playoff time. We need him at playoff time. But we don't know what's going on. So here we are today, he's no closer today than he was at training camp this year. That's not a good sign.

"The optimist in me says he's a young man, they got to find (the cure). The medical profession is pretty good. We got to figure this out and he's got to get back and playing.''

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