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Hi Rob,
Sorry this is happening to you. I’ve found life cycles are the hardest when you want to do something in the mind, but the body is saying otherwise. Definitely pick up your guitar and play, but also realize the results might not be up to your standards and that is okay.
What will improve your guitar playing while waiting for the surgery and you can start tomorrow is to listen to music. When I say listen, I mean really listen. Pick an artist you like and your favorite song by him/her and be a detective. Try to determine the following: Key of the song, chorus & verse, chords being played, the tempo/timing, pitch, etc. Tear that song apart that you know it front and back. Why does it work? Is it the key? What makes the song tick? Why did the artist pick a certain chord sequence? What instruments are being used? Analyze it and use your ears to recognize the subtle changes that are happening.
For example, tomorrow is the Wagon Wheel benchmark – listen to the original song, listen to what Bob Dylan wrote, and then go back to the techniques Tony are teaching. See how everything fits in. Also keep listening to the rhythm of the song over and over and over again, so the brain will tell your hands what to do subconsciously. I suspect even though you might be rusty and your eyesight is weak, just by listening will expand guitar skills as well as your music knowledge in general. Good luck with the surgery and definitely heal up quickly!