The pre-surgery exercises that were recommended to me were very simple and easy, and they were meant to be continued immediately after surgery also. There were only two, both done laying on your back in bed. The first was to slowly stretch both feet, pointing your toes as far away and down as you can, holding the stretch, then slowly bringing your feet back up on your heels, and flexing to point your toes towards your nose. Do at least 10-15 reps or as many as your can stand. The second exercise was to stiffen your legs and imagine tightly pulling your kneecap down into the bed, hold for at least 5 seconds and release. Do 10-15 reps.
I started these about two weeks before surgery, and did them immediately after in my recovery bed. In the first few weeks after surgery when I found it hard to sleep at night, I would do as many as I could stand until my legs got tired, and I had less of the restless leg symptoms.