diaphram

[allyn]

i was told i have nerve damage in my diaphram and its getting worse is there any procedure that can be done every time my diaprham gets constricted i looose all my breath and almost passs outplease if there is anything that can be done tell me

[National Jewish Health]

What you describe suggests that you may have at least partial diaphragm paralysis, due to progressive phrenic nerve damage.  The first step is to ask your doctors if there is any way to prevent further, or partially reverse the nerve damage.  If not, you will probably lose complete function of that hemi-diaphragm.

If not already performed, your doctors should do everything possible to determine the cause(s) of this nerve failure.  This should involve CT and magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanning of the nerve all along its course looking for sites of compression of the nerve.

If your diaphragm becomes mostly, if not completely paralyzed, there is a surgical procedure called diaphragm plication that does not restore function but minimizes the side effects of the paralysis.  There is another technique called electrical diaphragm pacing that stimulates the phrenic nerve, but this requires an intact phrenic nerve, which is seemingly a problem in your situation.  Pacing has its own complications and there is no guarantee of improved diaphragm function.

Finally, you should attempt to locate medical centers where doctors on staff have an avid interest in problems such as yours.  One such center is:  Institution Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. john.***@****

Good luck.

[DUTS]

A related discussion, phrenic nerve was started.