Excercise in whatever way your doc thinks is good. Low impact stuff to build muscle back and increase circulation around the injured part. If you have pain meds and physical therapy, even if you don't really think you need them, take them when you have PT. I found that I excercised better when stuff wasn't telling me "Ow...stop that."

Surgical scars can itch and burn like a sumbich, and rainy or humid weather will kick them off. Get a good vitaman ointment and massage them with it. A couple of weeks after my knee surgery, one scar hurt more than all the drilling and cutting they did. It depends on where they cut, and in what direction though.

Write a book, poetry, music, read everything you find interesting, watch movies (I need to rent one that was recommended to me for being weird and good: Bubba Ho-Tep), learn an instrument, and do other stuff you've probably already though of. I do beadwork. This is great for keeping busy and repetitive stuff can almost be meditiation. Beads are small and portable. You can get enough for a necklace, bracelet and earrings in to your pocket. I weave the itty bitty ones, but you could very easily design and make one with beads of a sane size.

Sorry all this bad stuff happened to you, Peg, and yes, I did wonder where you were. I hope you heal fast and well.