Hi,
I'd guess it depends what kind of work you do. I think if it's a kind of job where you'd be lifting heavy things around then you'd need some time off as that kind of straining is advised against. I do computer work and I work from home so I was able to work the next day.There's no real pain by the following day, just a tad uncomfortable as you're still swollen and it starts to itch a bit.
I'd say a couple of weeks until it's totally unnoticeable, but after a week you start washing it every day and that's when things improve a lot