Paralysis of Diaphragm

[bbduke]

My husband recently was diagnosed with paralysis of the right diaphragm.  The pulmonary Dr. is sending him to a Neurologist to look at his Phrenic Nerve.   He currently has Pneumonia and the elevated diaphragm was noticed on an X-Ray and MRI.  He is currently experiencing shortness of breath which just seem to start 2 weeks ago.  Are there serious implications for paralysis of the diaphragm?   His shortness of breath isn't that bad, but will it get worse and is there anyway to fix it?

[National Jewish Health]

This is a somewhat complicated situation.  You should ask Your husband’s pulmonary doctor about how the pneumonia and the paralysis might be related.  There are many causes of paralysis of the diaphragm.  It may take the combined efforts of the neurologist and a pulmonologist to decide what the next steps should be.  Paralysis is a common occurrence and, depending on the cause, not infrequently spontaneously reversible.

Your husband’ss shortness of breath will improve with resolution of the pneumonia but his lung function will remain somewhat diminished if the paralysis persists.

[Sally1933]

A related discussion, Partical Paralized Diaphram was started.