Exactly one year ago I sliced the right side of my left-hand index finger off back to the first joint while doing something stupid with a (fortunately brand new clean blade) utility knife.

I'd say now is a good time to practice using your pinky to finger--you still have 3 good ones. Jerry Garcia had a partial finger missing--I'm not sure which hand--but he recommended this as a practice exercise, whether voluntary or involuntary.

DADFAD--I like that! As I mentioned in that discussion, I also like using a partial G tuning--drop A string to G, optionally drop low E to lowwwwwwwwwwwww C, other strings standard. (In fact, I've been playing like that all morning.)

My finger is healed now, and distinctively tapered--I can play weirder jazz chords and more mandolin chords than ever before! Good luck on your recovery.

Bill