Source: WWE.com
As noted earlier today, Roman Reigns was rushed to a Nashville, Tennessee hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for an abdominal hernia, also referred to as an incarcerated hernia. Reigns will miss tomorrow’s Night of Champions show in which he was slated to go up against his former Shield partner Seth Rollins.
This afternoon, WWE.com posted an extensive update on Roman’s condition, surgery, and prognosis. WWE physician Chris Amann stated that the wrestler’s condition was not related to any recent in-ring activity. “Roman has had a pre-existing hernia for some time, which unfortunately had become acutely painful, which led to him going to the emergency room in Nashville,” Amann stated. “He was found to have a large hernia that was unable to be reduced, which means pushed back into the abdominal cavity. As a result, it was necessary to perform an emergency operation to open up the hernia sac and try and push it back into the abdominal cavity.”
Amann added that the hernia suffered by Reigns is different from a sports hernia. He said that Roman’s injury is actually an inguinal hernia which “can sometimes come from sports” but might also be present at birth.
It’s worth noting that the Mayo Clinic’s online definition of an inguinal hernia describes it as “a condition that isn’t necessarily painful by itself,” adding that the hernia “doesn’t get better or go away on its own, however, and it can lead to life-threatening complications.” Mayo Clinic staff also note that inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure.
Reigns has been transferred to a recovery area and is “doing quite well.” Doctors will continue to monitor his progress with a particular focus on preventing infection and insuring that his intestinal functions return to normal. He may be discharged from the hospital as early as tomorrow.
According to Dr. Amann, a typical recovery time for a condition like this is approximately four to six weeks, noting that because this particular hernia was significant, Reigns will likely be out of commission for “closer to six weeks.”