C3 compression

[kiki41]

My father was diagnosed with severe C3 compression after an MRI.  His hands are burning severly with numbness and he is beginning to drop things.  After researching this, I know he has to have surgery to correct this.  We have seen a neuro surgeon in the area that recommends a laminectomy due to my father's spinal canal.  It is not too narrow and if he were to do an anterior approach with a fusion, he would have to go from C3 down to C7.  He feels the posterior laminectomy will be the best approach.

My father has severe pain in his hands as well.  None in his legs or feet.  My fear is this:  His EMG was normal last year.  I was in fear that this could be carpal tunnel, but surely he would not have a normal EMG.  However, could that not change from 2008?

I understand that if he does not have this done, it could be dangerous.  He is having it done.  However, I want to know that these symptoms are common and that he will get some relief!  I feel he is suicidal at times.  I hope and pray this will at least relieve him of his burning hands.  In your opinion, should we get a recent EMG or is a 2008 one good enough.  His neurologist told him his opinion was that his neck was causing all of this and not carpal tunnel.

What is your opinion?  

[kiki41]

I am sorry.  I probably wasn't very clear.  Yes, he has spinal stenosis as well.  The physician here wanted to do the laminectomy because he felt that there was more problem at C3-4 and C6-7.  He thought if he did fuse he would do so all the way down and he thought my dad would have better results for the laminectomy posteriorly than to have to go back into the neck again at a later time for his spinal stenosis causing even more problems.  I hope I'm making sense!  I do trust this physician totally, I just do not want these symptoms to be from carpal tunnel and you really helped me with that!  I didn't think so, but still wanted an opinion.  Bad news is, on my father's pre-op visit, his cardiac EKG showed a dysrhythmia so now he has to have cardiac clearance.  This set him back mentally and emotionally, but we got him in on Monday (tomorrow) and maybe they will clear him fast.  I hope there's nothing major wrong cardiac wise.  I am afraid my father has waited too late and will have some residual nerve damage but if the majority of the pinched nerve symptoms will be gone, believe me, he will find peace!  We have all visited with him about how much we need him so I feel a little bit better about his suicidal thoughts and we do not leave him alone.  Prayers for us please and mostly him.  Thanks so much for your response!  :)  

[kittyluv1]

Your father's symptoms are most likely due to the C3 compression of the cervical spine.
I had very similar symptoms prior to my cervical fusion (also had spinal stenosis which apparently your father does not have).
I needed fusion from C4-C7 due to degenerative disc disease and disc herniations along with spinal stenosis.
Are the other levels of your father's cervical spine affected in any way?  I am curious as to why a fusion would be required from C3-C7 if there are not significant degenerative changes at the lower levels.
A posterior laminectomy is a less invasive procedure, but would allow the surgeon to remove affected disc material and relieve the nerve compression. It would remove the lamina of the vertebra and the spinous processes to give more room for the spinal cord.
It is most advantageous if the rest of the cervical spine is stable and not expected to have significant degenerative changes.
Be advised that the neurological changes your father is experiencing may take some time to resolve.  The surgery is done to remove compression, but the nerve takes awhile to regenerate to optimal function.  Depending on how long the nerve was compressed he might have some residual problems.  The majority of his symptoms should be relieved and it would be expected that his hand coordination would improve greatly.
A repeat EMG could again be normal if the muscles are still being innervated and the medial nerve (lower than the cervical spine) has not been compressed.  It is unlikely that his symptoms are related to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Is your father living alone?  Based on his emotional condition and his response to his current symptoms (suicidal), it would be advisable to schedule the surgery soon.
The longer the nerve compression exists, the greater the risk for permanent neurological changes which can not be reversed.
Post again with an update and any additional questions/concerns you may have.
Best wishes ---