No disrespect meant but if you have to ask "are push rods the same thing as con rods?" then I'd get somebody else to check your engine over or at the very least to help and advise you how and what needs doing.
Good luck and here's hoping its not as bad as it could be.
sorry, this is uncharted territory for me, have had a local mechanic look at it and he's set me straight on a few areas... well luckily i'm a fast learner, so am now VERY aware of the difference between a push-rod and a connecting rod... one's easy-peasy to take out, and other's an absolute bugger!