When Gavin Thornbury went for shoulder surgery last summer, it was meant to be a simple clean-up job.
The Connacht second row had been playing through the pain in the second half of the season, a "wear-and-tear" injury that was starting to take its toll.
In spite of the injury, he was putting together the best rugby of his career for Andy Friend's side, with many suggestions that the 6ft 7in lock could be a contender for an Irish call-up in the summer games against Japan and USA.
Those international chances were scuppered by his shoulder surgery, but at the time neither he nor Friend were majorly concerned. He'd go under the knife in May and be back firing in pre-season.
Those were the best laid plans. An initial outlook of 12 weeks turned into 11 months, Thornbury finally making his comeback against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship at the start of this month.
"It was incredibly frustrating," the Dublin native said this week, as Connacht prepare for the second game of their South African tour against the Sharks on Saturday.
"It was wear and tear, but it was getting worse to be honest. There wasn't much more I could have done. I had to get it done unfortunately, and then it kind of went from bad to worse as I went through the months. But we're here now and it's not too bad.
"I'd start doing a rugby session and there would be a set-back and it would be another couple of months. It is incredibly frustrating.
"You just want to play and help the squad and especially with the coaches coming in, Pete [Wilkins] stepping up and the two lads [Colm Tucker and Mossy Lawler] coming in and Dewald [Senekal] coming in as well, you want to be involved.
"I was in a good run of form and I was loving playing. I played 19 games I think last season, which is the most I've played in a year.
"I was loving it, playing week-in, week-out, and then when I had to go so long without a game it was tough. It was very tough, to be honest, but thankfully now I've come through the other end and I'll be a stronger person for it."
The injury afforded him the chance to work more with the new forwards coach Dewald Senekal off the pitch, where he began to study the mechanics of the scrum and lineouts with a coach's eye, as well as a player's.
"It's like you look at it through the coaching lens rather than a playing lens, which is really good experience."
"In fairness to Dewald [Senekal], he has been very good to me this year, keeping me involved," he added.
"I was hopefully able to help some of the younger lads, had that little bit of experience with them, going through games and going through lineouts with them. It was really enjoyable.
"You got yourself connected, and I know there were times, even myself during the 11 months, when you can feel disconnected to the squad. You might be on different times in the gym or when you are running, so you might not be as connected to the squad as you would like.
"So just being able to add a bit, or have an opinion here and there does keep you connected. You need that when you are going through that lengthy period out.
"From the start, [Senekal] kept me in the loop, and he worked a lot with me and the way he saw the game. We sat down and discussed a lot. I'm really grateful for that, I wanted to keep involved, to see how the lads were going, to have an opinion, and Dewald helped me a lot, about thinking about the game and seeing the game in a different way.
"It's like you look at it through the coaching lens rather than a playing lens, which is really good experience.
"It was nice to see it in a different view and be able to understand what the coaches are seeing, as opposed to seeing it as a player."
While admitting to a slight bit of trepidation at that first hit back, the 28-year-old has got back up to speed, starting both Heineken Champions Cup last 16 legs against Leinster.
"Every day for 11 months I wished I could play a game. When it finally came around I was so happy to be there."
But with their European campaign over and their URC playoff hopes ended, Andy Friend's side have just two more games left in their season, with the Sharks on Saturday before they welcome Zebre to the Sportsground in May.
For Thornbury, the days can't go slow enough.
"Funnily enough, I was having the exact same conversation with one of the lads a couple of days back, that the last thing I want is a break. I just want to keep playing games.
"I just love being back in the squad, love being back playing and training, it's been a really good couple of weeks, but yeah, these things happen unfortunately.
"Every day for 11 months I wished I could play a game. When it finally came around I was so happy to be there.
"And then you start to enjoy it again, and it comes back to you. The first couple of games, you're getting used to the pace, but after that you just want to play. That's why you do it, and it gets enjoyable again."
Having been in contention for an Ireland call-up last summer, there's an outside chance he could be involved with Andy Farrell's squad this summer, with the Irish coach expected to be bringing a large squad to New Zealand for their three-Test tour, which will also see them play midweek games against the Maori All Blacks.
He admits it's in the back of his mind, but says the best way to prove himself is against a hefty Sharks pack this Saturday in Durban.
"I think at the moment I just have to focus on each day as it comes, coming back from such a long injury you have to focus on what you are doing, getting used to being back playing rugby and getting up to speed. That's all I'm focusing on, literally trying to get a little bit better each day now.
"The Sharks are a quality side, a massive set-piece focused team. A really strong scrum and maul, and a very good lineout with some superb x-factor players in the backline.
"It's a massive challenge, it's a lot more set-piece-based, strong scrum and mauls especially this weekend. You've got to be pretty much perfect any time you go to a set-piece or you'll know all about it. We're looking forward to it, you can't shy away from it."
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