My Construction Career Is Over, A bit more involved than it sounds. Options

[Righteous]

I mentioned this in the Petty Complaints thread last night, but I'll go into it more deeply. I was at work yesterday (I lay pipe for a gas company) and was using a pickaxe to get through some hard ground. At one point, I lifted the pickaxe and felt my back go out. It hurt bad. The only reason I stayed on the job was because we had two new guys and needed supervision. I came home, took some ibuprophen and took it easy thinking I'd be all right today (I've been hurt before and figured it would follow suit). I woke up in more pain than I was the night before.

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow, but I already know what he's going to tell me: I can't work construction anymore. THis is the worst time I hurt my back by far. I know that if I keep going, I'll just hurt my back again and again and again and again. Now, this may not seem like much to y'all, but I've been working construction since I was thirteen. It's pretty much all I know. I'm a skilled laborer who can stand working outside or inside in the heat and the cold and I'm good at what I do. Not only this, but I had my job through my family's business, which means a lot to our household (especially since it's the only time I get to spend with my father).

Another thing that's been getting me is my family's whole "stiff upper lip" mentality. My old man tells me to "tough it out," my brother ridicules me for wanting crutches, and apparently my mother thinks ibuprophen cures everything and it's okay for me to skip school so I can lounge about and wait until tomorrow (something I wouldn't expect from her). I figure that if I'm in severe pain my most loved ones might have some sympathy. I guess I was wrong.

I know I need something new until I finish university and start a "real" career. That's not my primary concern, though; my health is. Please pray for my mobility, the pain I'm in and the hope that I won't need surgery. I hope all things work out for the best.

Thanks, you guys.

[Righteous]

Yeah, after a day of crutching and moving around, the pain has evolved.It hurts at the very base of my back, but moreso on my right side (at one point, down to my right knee). It hurts less if I step on my left foot (when I can't crutch, I hobble around) and I have to lean to the left if I have to sit down. This is interesting considering my right foot is longer than the other. I can stand unaided, but usually need crutches or something to lean on when I walk (which I cannot do walking completely upright). Going from a supine position to a standing position is damn near impossible and I can't lay on my side, which is interesting because that's how I normally sleep.

*whew*

Doctor's appointment in thirteen hours. We're thinking it's muscular and not skeletal and we hope we're right.