First off, I hope the surgery goes well. Second, do the best you possibly can with the rehab program, it is a large factor in positive outcomes (I haven't had the surgery, but used to work for a company that made the parts). As far as projects go, when I was house bound after bypass surgery, I spent some time tying flies for trout fishing. Certainly would work with crappie jigs. Get a fly vise, some jig heads, some chennile, some maribou, and thread, and tie you up some sizes and color combinations different than you can easily buy.