I am so sorry to hear about your accident Stuart. I cut my right index finger on the tablesaw about two years ago (five stitches). My daughter calls it the curse of the babyback ribs because I had dinner cooking and was just going to make "one more cut".
I wish you a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. It has taken much longer than I thought, but other than a little occasional numbness, it is 100%. It took probably 1 1/2 years for most of the feeling to come back. I remember for several months after my accident, each time I turned on the tablesaw I got a little weak in the knees.
Good luck tomorrow. I'll say a prayer for you.
Amy