Al Roker’s "Intense Pain" Led to Shoulder Surgery and Short Hiatus From 'TODAY'

Most avid TODAY Show fans essentially regard Al Roker as a second father, so going a day — or even a week — without hearing his booming laughter at 7 a.m. sharp would be seriously jarring. That being said, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, the weather forecaster and journalist announced that he would be taking a short break from the beloved NBC series while he's recovering from shoulder surgery, and fans are seriously worried.

What happened to Al Roker's shoulder? What is his estimated recovery time post-surgery? We're looking into the beloved newscaster's health to find out why he's going under the knife, because really, we must protect Al Roker at all costs.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, Al is undergoing shoulder surgery to hopefully alleviate intense arthritis pain in his right shoulder, which he's been suffering from for months now, according to New York Daily News. The day before going under the knife, he announced on TODAY, alongside orthopedic surgeon Dr. Riley Williams III, that he would be taking a hiatus for the rest of the week to recover. The procedure will ideally relieve pain and restore joint function.

Following this daunting procedure, Al will be in physical therapy for up to 10 days, according to USA Today, and he will be wearing a sling for up to three weeks. While this surgery won't be an easy one — to say the least — this isn't his first rodeo, as he's undergone shoulder surgery before. In 2014, he had his left rotator cuff repaired. 

During the announcement, Al said this will make things better for him in the long-run. 

“It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even sleep at night. It’s not bad during the day, but at night it’s an intense pain that literally wakes me up... For the last month, I’ve only been sleeping about two or three hours a night, which even for me is a little less,” he explained. 

Check out the Instagram video he posted beforehand below.

These last few months, the TODAY Show cast members have undergone some seriously tough times. At the end of 2019, Savannah Guthrie had to undergo eye surgery after her son, Charley, threw a toy truck at her eye, which caused her to lose vision. After seeking medical help, doctors worried her retina detached, and that she could permanently lose her eyesight. Luckily, her surgeries went well, and she's fully recovered.

Likewise, earlier this year, NBC News correspondent Kristen Dahlgren had to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation after getting diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2019, according to TODAY. She is now cancer-free, and is doing much better.

We're wishing Al the best as he goes into surgery, and for a speedy recovery afterwards.