Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
I have to ask, when r u having surgery, is it scheduled?....u may want to get an opinion from another dr, and do make sure it is a true chiari specialist.
I do not know how or when u would be able to return to ur position as a fire fighter...we r all diff and some do respond well to surgery, but there is no way to say yes or no b4 surgery, so if ur Dr is saying yes, u may want to check out a diff Dr.
We do have a list of drs that still need to be researched...the list was compiled by the members here of their drs.....the list is not meant as a referral, u need to find the dr that is right for u-
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological%20Disorders/DOCTORS-LIST-FOR-CHIARI-SYRINGOMYELIA/show/1062?cid=186
"selma"