SNOWBOARD! Two true stories:
#1) My wife took up skiing after being left alone half the time as I was on the mountain riding...she considered snowboarding with me, but chose skiing after her doctor told her skiing would make her existing back problems much worse. He agreed snowboarding was easier on the knees, but the learning phase, and the tough falls, could ruin her back forever, then she wouldn't be able to do anything.
#2) I took up snowboarding nearly 14 years ago and still put in a modest 20-30 days a season. Not bad for an older guy. I also play beach volleyball. I was off the mountain for the entire 2011 season after some serious foot surgery on my right metatarsal tendon and chips/bone on bone in my ankle. I was told the surgery had an 85% success rate. After 2 weeks of immobility and bed, six weeks in a cast, four weeks in a soft cast and ten weeks of PT, it was determined that I was in the unlucky 15% -- my surgery basically failed.
So now walking is still painful, but I can play some limited volleyball if I wear lots of braces, take some pain killers and don't push it. But you know what? I can still snowboard all day! I wear stiff freeride boots (ThirtyTwo Focus Boas) on a stiff board (NS Titan). The thing is, the stiff boots act like a cast and hold the foot/ankle in place when tightened properly. I literally can't stand or walk for too long without serious pain. I was laid off after my surgery because I was out for so long and cost my company lots of money, and haven't found a FT job yet, because of my foot. I could try to claim Disability, but the thing is -- I CAN STILL SNOWBOARD! No one will understand that walking hurts, standing hurts, but snowboarding feels GOOD. It really does. The exhilaration, feeling I'm doing something. Does my foot hurt at the end of the day? Sometimes, but nothing like it does after a one-hour walk through a fucking mall.
I'm still eaking by doing freelance work, nothing like the money I was making before. Not sure I'll get another 30 days in this year unless a good gig comes through...but it's better than claiming Disability and sitting at home collecting a check but not being able to do what I love. Those bastards WILL send spies to watch you, to make sure you're really disabled. I know this for a fact, I knew a private detective who did this for a living. It's not worth it...I'd rather be on the mountain.
I guess it's all about priorities. Sorry for the long rant. Best of luck with your recovery.