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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Phrenic Nerve
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Phrenic Nerve
by captmuno, Sep 28, 2004 12:00AM
On February 16, 1951, I suffered a traumatic fall, while attending U.S. Army parachute training at Fort Benning, GA. I landed on my upper back and neck, and although I did not lose consciousness, I was close. First aid was administered and after about 30 minutes I was able to get on my feet and walk slowly. I was not hospitalized, but went on to complete the training. From that day forward, I was never able to “catch my second wind”, when running, and from that day forward I always had a shortness of breath.
In January 2000, I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension, and prescribed 2% Oxygen 24 hours. Since that time I have lost 40 lbs and oxygen is only needed on exertion. I use oxygen at nighttime, because I have some sleep apnea. At the time I was diagnosed with PPH, I was given the “sniff test” and found that I had a paralyzed right diaphragm.
The medical staff questioned me, had I ever used “appetite depression drugs”, had surgery, or any other traumatic injury. My answer was no, with the exception, that I was injured in 1951 (as described above). I was not told, but since I have read and studied a lot, I am sure they were attempting to find whether I had an injury to the “Phrenic Nerve”. With that in mind, my question is this; could I have damaged the “Phrenic Nerve” in the fall I described? I am currently 20%, VA disabled with my cervical due to arthritis, from that fall.
In January 2000, I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension, and prescribed 2% Oxygen 24 hours. Since that time I have lost 40 lbs and oxygen is only needed on exertion. I use oxygen at nighttime, because I have some sleep apnea. At the time I was diagnosed with PPH, I was given the “sniff test” and found that I had a paralyzed right diaphragm.
The medical staff questioned me, had I ever used “appetite depression drugs”, had surgery, or any other traumatic injury. My answer was no, with the exception, that I was injured in 1951 (as described above). I was not told, but since I have read and studied a lot, I am sure they were attempting to find whether I had an injury to the “Phrenic Nerve”. With that in mind, my question is this; could I have damaged the “Phrenic Nerve” in the fall I described? I am currently 20%, VA disabled with my cervical due to arthritis, from that fall.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Sep 30, 2004 12:00AM
, Sep 30, 2004 12:00AM
Your paralyzed right diaphragm could be associated with your traumatic injury. That could account for your shortness of breath. If this is the case, there should have been evidence of the paralysis on all subsequent chest x-rays. If you had any x-rays, you should retrieve them and/or the reports to try to date the onset of the paralysis.
http://tkdtutor.com/07Defense/EffectsOfBlows.htm
Effects of Blows
Excerpt:
"Blow to Throat
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Blow to the phrenic nerve that runs from the fourth cervical vertebra down into the chest, the thorax, to merge with the diaphragm may cause it the diaphragm to spasm and cause a feeling of getting the "wind knocked out" of you.
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Blow to Back of Neck
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Blow to the phrenic nerve, that leads to the diaphragm between the second and forth vertebra, may sever it and cause death due to respiratory paralysis. The nerve may be easily injured.