Skunk, don't be too sure that it's the end of your career. I had lots of work doneto my back. Broken vertabre, healed crooked. Years later, while lifting a keg
, rebroke the same vertabre, right above the pelvis. Needed a laminectamy (??), bone graft, fusion, and titanium rods and screws. Waited 6 months for the surgery, then 3 months recovery w/ vback brace on ( boy you can feel like a dork at the beach w./ a corset brace on
), then 6 months of Physical thereapy.
About 1 year after all that, I tested for my 2nd degree Black belt in Kung Fu. Doctors said I would be lucky to walk w/o pain, and to give up on the Kung fu. They are not always right.
Do what the docs tell you, work HARD through the therapy (even when it hurts
), and pray. Hopefully, they will fix you up so that you can still be a fireman. If they can't, keep you chin up. Most of the recovery is in the head. That is what my surgeons told me. Hope it all goes well for you.
