JeanieG, hope your healing goes well. They are generally pretty smooth these days. Do what they tell you for your aftercare! I had some carpal tunnel problems but they were minor compared to severe tendonitis in my forearms. Lucky for me, once I was diagnosed and doing what they told me, it all got better and I was able to avoid they surgery. Still 20 years later and some days/times when I feel the issues and I have some lingering grip strength issues.
I starting pairing my red/neutral squares with the 4-patches. Starting with the top border because that is the same on Bonnie's Layout and mine -- 5 squares across. Will then go down one long side, am hoping that the 4-patches will correctly march around the top, might have to fudge the 4th corner when I get to it, so while I would like to make the corners first, I'll only make the first one until I find out what happens as I march down my extra row. I feel I should be able to count or otherwise determine it all ahead of time, but I don't seem fully up to it... but I can put my pieces down and see where they land!