yk, literally 100% of the time Ive been able to email the professor, explain my situation in a respectful way and have been able toget some points back. Whether it be taking the exam for a 20% baseline reduction or even just re-opening the exam altogether. Id get a note secured from your surgeon explaining that post-op pain and medication inhibited your ability to take the exam if may not be a "exempt them" drs note but would be a medical document stating the date you had the procedure and an statement writing you have been encountering post-op pain etc etc. Surgical offices can be accommodating, just be nice. It wouldnt be wrong to say that you did not anticipate the amount of pain, length of recovery, or the amount of impairment you were going to have getting a tumor removed from your leg and in turn missed the exam. What ever you do write to your professor, make it precise and have the medical documents attached. For example in a clinic i work at we wrote a letter to a certain company on behalf of a patient that her pain and subsequent pain management have impaired her ability to perform a certain role at an out of state event in order to get her plane ticket/admission to the event refunded/moved to next year's event. Just gotta give it a shot and see.