It is indeed a rare condition, but known to occur. I cannot comment on the accuracy of their diagnosis, without knowing the exam and test results so my advice is limited. I assume other causes of phrenic nerve injury were excluded - neuralgic amyotrophy, trauma, tumor etc.
If it was an immune system attack, the only specific treatment is partially effective within 2-4 weeks of teh attack (plasmapheresis or IV immunoglobulin). After this one has to wait for the nerve to recover itself. There are no scientifically proven ways to speed or increase the nerve healing as yet, although there is much research being done in this area. EMG can give an idea about extent of recovery, but this is difficult and dangerous with the diaphragm muscles. Sometimes a diaphragmatic stimulator can be impanted to stimulate the diaphragms to move (like a pacemaker) - your husband may be a candidate for this. Chiropractic care is not scientiffically or medically proven to help. Maintaining good fitness of his other muscles will be important though.
Good luck
I have diaphragmatic paralysis and am a patient at the Cleve. Clinic in Naples, Fl. I require a BiPAP machine to sleep and am restricted when trying to do certain manual labor. I am moving to DC in a week. Can you refer me to a Neurologist in the N.Virginia or DC area that this familiar with diaphramatic paralysis?
Thanks in advance for your help.