I was let go from my job because of an injury, can I collect unemployment while waiting to hear from workmans comp?

I was working a temporary job that made my carpel tunnel flair up. One hand is severe and the other is moderately severe. My doctor put me restrictions and said I needed surgery on both hands. So I was let go from my job. I am jobless and more or less unemployable because the restrictions basically prevent me from taking any job using my hands.

I applied to my agency for workman’s comp, but I have not heard anything from them yet. I applied for unemployment and made them aware of my restrictions, the woman I talked to indicated she was going to push my unemployment through. I really am unable to take any job until I have surgery. With the requirement of having to search for a job what does that do for my case of workman’s comp? I feel as if they are waiting to find out if I apply for unemployment to tell me that I have attested to the fact that I am employable.

This is a weird case since I was not a permanent employee so they owe me nothing and did not have to keep me on the payroll until the situation is resolved. With that being the case, I have no income. I want to get back to work after surgery and if I get started now with surgery I could be back to work in 6 months to a year. I just do not know what to do because if I have surgery I am unemployable until I am healed, so no unemployment.

What can I do in this case? What are my options?