How long are you able to take off work?

I could have taken more 6wks or more depending on what my surgeon approved. I took 5 wks. I have 2 wks left and I'm doing to be sad going back I've enjoyed my time off and being home with my kiddos. 

My company has an unlimited leave policy but I didn't want to put my coworkers in a lurch. I work at home in front of a computer. I had surgery on Monday and was back to work on Thursday. Was I ready, not at all. I had "brain fog" for about a week. After it didn't go so well, I worked on and off the following week, taking breaks for walking, sipping, and napping. 

I have a very physically demanding job and took off 6 weeks. I tried to get more time out of my doctor but she wouldn't allow it. But when by the time 4 weeks was up I was ready to go back to work but my honey would hear of it. Glad I stayed home the six weeks and got the much needed rest and learned how to adjust to my new life.

My doc asked me how long I wanted to take off and wrote the note for me to get it.  I took off 8 weeks (Halloween to New Years) through the winter holidays.  I was very glad for it, too, for I was a cheap date to the anesthesia, and very listless for 5 weeks.  When I returned, I hit the ground running and didn't look back.  Some others will return earlier depending on the type of job, etc.  I will warn that there is an 8lb rule for about 8 weeks for lift/push/pull, and people who had to do any critical thinking made some really bad errors trying to return too early.

For Short-term disability, you'll want to ask what the waiting period is.  I waited two weeks for it to kick in, and my vacation time took care of that part.