Trigger finger surgery recovery

I had surgery on all 5 fingers of my right hand (I'm right handed) in Nov 2012, then all 5 fingers on my left hand in early Jan 2013. Each time I received thorough instructions and expectations from my doc. Each time, he ordered a cooling machine for me that circulates cold 43 degree water through a hand sleeve. I started using the cooling machine when I got home from surgery, half hour on, half hour off. The machine cycles between cold and just water, so I only disconnected when I when to the bathroom, etc. Because I had all 5 fingers done at once, I wanted to be knocked out for surgery. I could wiggle my fingers when I got home, but there was so much wrapping and gauze that my range was limited. A week later, I dropped back on the cooling machine to about 8 hours a day plus overnight. Stitches out after 10 days. I continued to rub at the surgery site and the lumps went away and I had 90% recovery when I went back to work.
My right hand was the worst and some of my tendons had begun to unravel, so the surgery was needed to prevent total tendon separation. Everything happened the way that the doc said. I took 3 1/2 weeks off of work (I'm a typist and I knit and garden), then went back to typing for 8 hours. It was too soon and the ring finger on my right had began to swell. By the time I had the surgery on my left hand 6 weeks later, it was very hard to bend my fingers on my right hand.
Everything happened the same way for my left hand, but the damage had not been as bad. I am now 3 1/2 weeks out and I have full movement with some pain twinges when I over do it. Don't lift things heavier than a cup of coffee, it can set you back. I'm taking almost 5 weeks off of work to make sure I don't have any setbacks. My right ring finger is swollen at the base of the finger, but I can bend it nearly all the way with no pain, I just rushed things before. The other fingers work 100%.
Recommendations: rub the scar area to breakup dense tissue; don't rush things, take meds to reduce the swelling when needed.
The hardest part for me is dealing with the paperwork, being on leave isn't easy and I'll be very lucky if it doesn't effect my job, but my hands are more important.
Sorry for the long post, but maybe it will help someone.