Paralyzed diaphragm

[carbiz54]

I have had a virus that affected my phrenic nerve causing my diaphragm to work poorly. My diaphragm is elevated on the left causing the lung to not fully expand. I am out of breath on stairs and cannot lift anything heavy and still not able to sleep on my back. I am told by my specialist the nerves will heal and I will be back to normal after a year or so.I am a 54 year old male. its been two months and I have seen slight improvement . Anybody go through anyhing similar and have positive results ?

[naillady]

Your symptoms sound somewhat like my mothers.  She's 65 and after having a lower lobectomy of her right lung she has had shortness of breath when climbing stairs, when she stands from a sitting position, when carrying something on her left or right side (but not at her chest) I have looked up phrenic nerve disorders and paralyzed diaphragm but have not found anything with those symptoms.  Her symptoms have actually gotten worse since her surgery (about 4 years ago), I'm wondering if when she had her lobectomy if they could have damaged the phrenic nerve. What test did you take that they determined it was your phrenic nerve? Her doctors have seemed to give up on her. I have not yet found any information hat phrenic nerve or paralyzed diaphragm can be cured. Thanks for any info that you can give me, I'm sorry that I don't have any info to help you.  Naillady

[carbiz54]

Hello,
        They can test your phrenic nerves using electrical impulses. Most larger hospitals can do this. Also you can request a sniff test which tells them your diaphram is operating as it should. I am going to a specialist in two weeks to learn more.If it is a diaphram issue it could be raised on one side pushing on a lung. They have a procedure they do for that called diaphragmatic plication which is supposed to help ypur breathing. Just tell your mother to keep asking questions and not to give up. Hope this helps.
                                                                                                   carbiz54

[naillady]

Thank you, I'll ask if she's had such a test.