76ers' Joel Embiid details difficult road to recovery after appendectomy

76ers' Joel Embiid details difficult road to recovery after appendectomy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid returned to the court less than three weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.

The Sixers came up short in Embiid’s return, but the fact that the big man was even out there is pretty impressive, all things considered.

After the game, Embiid detailed the difficult road to recovery he faced after the appendectomy.

"I mean, when it first started, I couldn’t walk,” Embiid said. “Even getting to the hospital. Dealing with some of the stuff that came from it. Just adjusting and getting through that. I don’t wanna get into the details, but it’s been tough, but that’s life.”

Embiid explained that at first he thought the pain he was experiencing in his stomach was the result of food poisoning or a stomach virus.

"It first started in San Antonio. Stomach started hurting, and I never had stomach pain before, but I thought I ate something bad. They had me try some food from Texas. Since they're from there. So, I thought it was, I guess, a stomach virus or something,” Embiid explained.

However, once the pain got worse and became debilitating, Embiid knew that it wasn’t just a virus, but something more serious.

“That same night before the game, I didn't want to bother these guys because they were sleeping, but, it got to the point that I couldn't sleep, and I was just up until like, 4 in the morning and I was like ‘Yeah, I need help,’” Embiid said.