Three months ago after enjoying fifty years of great health, I was hospitalized with stomach infection symptoms. Had a ct scan and one hour later I had what was diagnosed as winging scapula. One week later, I developed diaphragm paralysis. No one can provide cause or explanation. I had an upper gi endoscopy with biopsy. Could this be the cause?:

Hi Don!
I am curious, did you ever find out what the cause of your paralzed lung was? Sure doesn't make any sense does it? Please let me know, for I am in the same boat and I am dying to know if we are using the same oar...
Thank you,
Sundance:wave:




Three months ago after enjoying fifty years of great health, I was hospitalized with stomach infection symptoms. Had a ct scan and one hour later I had what was diagnosed as winging scapula. One week later, I developed diaphragm paralysis. No one can provide cause or explanation. I had an upper gi endoscopy with biopsy. Could this be the cause?:

Don
I too have paralyzed right lung diaphram. Cause for it unknown. Worked OK in December 2006 but I caught something called CDiff in the hospital and after I recovered from that intentinal desease, I developed shortness of breath. Last Friday the Doctor confirmed that my right lung diaphram was not operating. I see the Doctor again on Tuesday to see if there is anthing that can be done. He implied that there wasn't. So I'm a two cylinder engine with only one cylinder firing!
You case seem far more serious and irreversible. I'm able to get by with one lung but I'd like to know the odds for the left lung going bad.
It's hell to get old!(85). Would appreciate any info you dig up. I'll do the same for you.
Deep Blue

Don and Sundance,
As I promised in my last post, here's an update on my paralysed diaphraghm per visits to my Pulminary and Heart specialists today.
My pulminary doc could not determine ,from the several tests that were done, what is the specific cause.
Neither he nor my cardiologist could find any lack of blood flow from the heart to the lungs. Nor could they connect the failure to the CDiif desease and Vancomycin I took to cure the Cdiff.
I think that diabetes and age are factors. As I said before it's hell to get old.
The Doc gave me some upper chest exersize routines to stenghthen the muscles thereby and compenste a bit for the bad diaphrahgm. He also kept my on the ADVAIR inhaler and suggested more weight loss would help.
Let me know I'f you come across and "majic bullets" I'll do the same.
Keep the faith!
Deep Blue:wave: :wave: :)

wow, what a trip. Sorry to hear that they could not find anything concrete to help you on your way to recovery. If you ever hear anything, please let us know ~ and I'll do the same for you too.
Take care, me

Hello to all of you with paralyzed diaphragms. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago w/ unilateral paralysis (left side). I'm 50, and otherwise in good health, so this has been very discouraging. The suspected cause of mine is probably flu/viral, but no one knows for sure. I am thinking about undergoing diaphragmatic plication. It a surgery to literally sew the diaphragm down on the affected side so it doesn't interfere with the breathing process. Has anyone out there gone this route? If so, I'd be interested in hearing how it was & if your symptoms improved. Also, how many of you are using the bi-pap or C-pap at night? Lastly, does anyone know anything about the possibility of the phrenic nerve ever regenerating? I hope someone replies--I'm very interested in hearing how others are coping with this.

Right here goes,

I have been diagnosed with a paralyzed and elevated right diaphragm. I've read that the right lung is larger than the left - does this mean that the right side being diagnosed is worse than if it was the left and what are the chances of the left diaphragm going too?

I have asthma, ora facial granulomatous, a swollen and painful poritid (might be spelled wrong) gland, and a blocked tube, which goes from my nose to my ear, which causes a 10% hearing loss in my left ear.

I have no idea if any of this is connected and I can't seem to get enough information.

At the moment I have a chest infection, irritable, inflamed airways, cough, shortness of breath - this has been going on for nearly three weeks, I am on my 3rd course of antibiotics, 500mg of Amoxycilin, 8 x 5mg prednisilone steroids and Nuelin to open my airways.

Is this related to or complicated by my paralyzed diaphragm? I have been to the doctors several times, at their bequest and to the hospital and was given more pills and sent home.

My chest is painful, it feels as if I have some sort of weight in it and I get a cold, almost metallic feeling in my throat/chest area.

I often get Cellulitis infections in my face, chin etc... because of my ora facial granulomatous.

I am being reffered to a pulmonologist but have heard nothing as of yet.

I have been having breathing problems for a while but put it down to my asthma, until eventually a chest x ray showed up an elevated right diaphragm, they then performed an ultra sound, which showed that it is also paralyzed.

What will they do next?

With no obvious cause as of yet, is it likely that the left diaphragm will go too over time?

Is it also likely that the chest infection etc... which wont go is related to it and made worse by it?

I get very breathless when I bend down or walk/run too quickly. I also cough a heck of a lot if I lay down or slouch and find breathing more difficult like that.

I have a large chest - will this make matters worse?

How do they perform diaphragm plication?

Who normally gets that kind of treatment?

Thanks for any help, information and advice you can offer...

Take care all,

Christie

P.S. I am also on seretide and salbutamol inhalers, for my asthma, which they say is bad at the moment.

Will my asthma complicate the diaphragm problem greatly and in what ways? Anyone out there have both too?

I am a 26 year old woman who has suffered some form of ill health since the age of 7, when I was first diagnosed with Ora Facial Granulomatous.

Hi... I have a breathing problem...and have done some reading on pacemakers for diaphragms...it is worth checking out. My situation hasn't been diagnosed yet...apparently my actual lungs are OK...it is the muscles that perform inhaling and exhaling that are extremely weak. I was recently tested for Lysosomal Storage Disease type 2...negative. My next visit is in March to a muscle specialist... my genetic doctor thought it might be a type of dystrophy of the muscles... I'm still hoping it is just a damaged phrenic nerve from neck surgery I had a month or so before my breathing problems began... :-D They are talking about an EMG of the diaphragm...which is performed in a surgical type of manner ... from what I've read.

I have less than 50% lung function...from my understanding it is somewhere like 33%...but I could be wrong. I can't do much without gasping for breath... I've been taking natural pills to try and help with energy as I'm bushed all the time... Terrible leg pains..cramping in the diaphragm and legs...

If it turns out the muscles are too weak to breath...I'm not sure what the next step is... I'm not sure if a diaphragm pacemaker will work if the muscles that it tries to trigger to move are too weak...

I wish you all the best.
:jester:

for tfoster4329 or anyone else with phrenic nerve issues:

Have you any other information on your condition? I ask as I am in kind of the same situation. Had neck surgery a year ago and problems ever since. Would love some help as I am despondent about it. Thanks so much!

Please see post below. I was unable to delete this mistake. Thanks!

My apologies for taking so long to reply.

I have had about 40 percent recovery from my diaphragm paralysis. On the advice of a pulmonologist who examined my case, I upped my physical exercise level to where I was finishing exhausted at least three times a week (This included one hour a day on elliptical machine and tewnty minutes on weight machines for rib cage area muscles). After several months of this, on the recommendation of an acquaintance with nerve damage, I saw a massage therapist who concentrated on working in the C5 area of my back. After ten sessions I had recovered enough to be able swim again (this had previously not been possible since my injury). I can now accomplish things physically that were not available to me. My regular doctors have given little value to the massage therapy. All I can offer is that it woked! I am presently exercising everyday and plan to resume the massage sessions in another month. Hope this offers some hope to others who have similar issues.

Please See My Note At End Of This Thread.

Hi ,

I too have right side diaphragm paralysis. I have found extreme exercise to the point of heavy breathing three times a week has helped to some extent. Cause was damage to the Phrenic nerve while having my right shoulder repaired. The Dr. used a block to perform the operation and the nerve was either nicked or cut. I have compensated for the loss of diaphragm movement and lung capacity by practicing different movements of the body while taking in air. I used to have an extremely large lung capacity, (could hold my breath for more than 3 minutes), now however, it is barely average for a person my age (64). There is no sign of nerve regeneration but my breathing practices have helped with the anxiety of not being able to catch my breath. I have not found any help in the physician community; they seem content that my breathing is as good as it is. That is frustrating to me.