paralyzed diaphragm

I also have a paralyzed rt diaphragm. I had breast cancer & received radiation for 8 weeks. I didn't notice my shortness of breath at that time. In 2008, I had a total hysterectomy, appendectomy and hernia repair. The minute I woke up I was sort of breath. I could not breathe in the hospital and when they brought around the lung exerciser I couldn't get the ball to raise hardly at all. They (hospital) gave me the lung exerciser to take home and try to improve my breathing. It never did. I was referred to my cardio dr, then my OBGYN, then I had to see a Lung Specialist. He ordered a "sniff test" and it was determined that my diaphragm was paralyzed. This is as far as I have gotten as NO ONE will say when or how it could have happened. I'm very short of breath to the point of almost passing out if I exert myself by walking, bending over, laying down & just normal daily functions. I have to be very careful when I feel the onset of a shortness of breath episode as I have also been known to lose function of my bladder. I'm told there is nothing they can do for a damaged phrenic nerve & I just have to live this way. I cry over this a lot and it has greatly destroyed my happiness in life. I don't know where to turn.

I was run down by a gurney by A medical assistant and it pushed my diaphragm in my chest a quarter inch and paralyzed also collapse in my left lung, I. Have not been the same. Since! Now I’m on. Oxygen

Try the Cleveland clinic. Dr kaufmann turned me down based off records. I found the Cleveland clinic and they are doing a diaphragm pacemaker another option is plication. Has anyone advised either of those? I have paralysis with no cause but my nerve is not damaged.

I could have written the previous post. The shortness of breath came on following a heart ablation. This took place a little over a year ago. Lung exam verified nerve damage with the opinion it could have been cut by the lazer during the ablation I am currently having pain ibeneith my Right rib cage. My pulmonologist said he can hear air in my Right lung. And believes the pain may be due to the nerve recovering. I thought it could be a liver and or gallbladder attack. I'll be thankful if it is a sign of nerve recovery . Does anyone have similar pain with nerve recovery?

Google Dr. Matthew Kaufman he can repair the Phrenic Nerve I'm scheduled for the surgery in a few months I have the same issue has you, but I have no idea what caused mine I was told by doctors not to worry about it for 10 years I should have gotten more information. You want to get it fixed sooner then later because when it first happened to me was 10 years ago I didn't notice a problem as time passes the diaphragm muscle weakens, thin's and stretches into the lung cavity reducing the capacity. Also as you gain weight like I have from my late 30's to my late 40's the extra fat grows into the space below the paralyzed diaphragm making it worse. The best thing you can do is stay as thin as you can that helps a lot but at some point have to do something the diaphragm can split herniate they told me if that happens your lung could collapse. Now I have many symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest colds that take me 2-3 months to clear the lung, Sleep apnea. Even today if you talk to a Pulmonary doctor they will tell you it's not possible to fix the phrenic nerve they will direct you to plication which is a major surgery compared to what Dr Kaufman is doing. Dr Kaufman said he has done over 400 of these operations in the last 10 years and most recover 80% of the usage of the diaphragm. The plication surgery you only recover 26-28% of your lung capacity. If you read others who have had Dr Kaufman repair the nerve Lung doctors still don't believe it until they see the results of a sniff test shows the diaphragm moving again. I was surprised that they didn't even want to look into what Dr Kaufman was doing.

I have the exact situation since January 2018. Dr. Kaufman will not operate and recommended therapy to help me breathe. I start in two days but it is a two hour drive from my home. I just pray it works, I cannot do anything and I am very depressed.

All sounds typical of weak diaphragm. I have been nearly a year now after diagnosed damage to phrenic nerve. I find life much easier now, but dont think the problem is mending, more the fact that my stomach muscles seem to be helping out although they do ache quite a lot and cant stand much general use, lifting etc demonstrates weakness and further aches. I have lost over a stone in weight since the damage to the nerve but weight stable now. still trying to identify the actual damage to the phrenic nerve, but then if found, what can be done about it?? very frustrating!!!!!

HI, I had a right hip replacement 1 year go tomorrow.I have copd and a very bad back. In December I started to have a harder time breathing. Found out I have a left elevated paralyzed diaphragm Went for the sniff test to confirm. Dr. thinks because I had to lay on my back for 8 weeks it caused the nerve to become pinched. I have not been on my back for over ten years. I was told I may not make another surgery and it is getting harder to breathe. I never heard of this condition. I am now on a cpap and oxygen.

I have this too. My doc found a doc in New Jersey
Who does this kind of surgery. I talked to him on phone he said I have to wait 8 months and I have been on oxygen since June when this happened

Appreciate the positive update, haven[t found any spontnaneous wake up stories. Will help to stay positive.