Paralyzed Diaphragm

@labsmom5 In reading your list of diagnoses, there seems to be a lot there that can affect breathing.

Have you been tested for allergies? This certainly can affect how much phlegm is in your lungs obstructing the air ways. I have asthma, and even though I'm treating allergies with shots, it wasn't doing enough for my cat allergy. By making changes at home with using HEPA air filters, and wearing a HEPA quality surgical mask when I'm near the cats, and cleaning/vacuuming to reduce dander, it made a world of difference in my ability to breathe, and I can coexist with my cats. Until I figured out the connection, I would get accumulating phlegm that progressed to lung infections with my heart rate raised. The masks are 3M #1820 Procedure mask with ear loops (not ties) that have >99% Bacterial filtration efficiency and > 99% @ 0.1 Micron particles. If I can prevent the triggers from getting into my lungs, my lungs don't react by producing the excess phlegm.

The spinal stenosis and retro spondolisthesis might be affecting your breathing too. The phrenic nerve exits the spine from the spinal roots of C3, C4, and C5 and travels down next to the spine before passing near the heart and reaching the diaphragm. if you are having vertebrae slipping and neck muscle spasms, it could be affecting the phrenic nerve through a physical compression somewhere in it's pathway. Have you tried any physical therapy to improve your breathing? I'm not suggesting physical exercise, but manual techniques like myofascial release therapy. I am a spine surgery patient with a fusion at C5/C6, and I also have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) and that made my neck and chest tight where nerves and vessels were passing through small areas. TOS is common among patients with spine injuries and it affects the mechanics of breathing which I have experienced. Through physical therapy and MFR, I've been able to improve my breathing and get things moving again as they should be. MFR often can help where conventional treatments fail. If you have had long term inflammation, or injuries, the fascia can become tight and restricted. Lung tissue is mostly fascia with blood vessels in it. You can have fascial restrictions into the chest where the nerves are passing. It might be something to look into.

Has anyone offered treatment for your spinal stenosis and retro spondolisthesis? If you have instability there, it's possible this could be a source of phrenic nerve problems from irritation or compression. Are you getting help for the sleep apnea and using a machine to breathe at night? That might help a lot too. One of my friends uses one, and she told me that because she was in panic breathing mode all night, it was raising her anxiety levels during the day, which then again causes breathing using muscles in the upper chest and neck... the same place where tight muscles can affect breathing.

MFR is also treatment for fibromyalgia. It might be worth discussing with your doctor if physical therapy can help. Not all doctors embrace MFR or understand it, but it works, and I have benefited from it a lot. Right after my spine surgery, I did have breathing problems, and the tightness from the surgical path tightened the fascia very close to where the restrictions exists from the TOS, and my pain was worse until we opened up those spaces with MFR work.

I created a discussion about Myofascial Release. There is a lot of information collected there where you can learn about it. There is a provider finder link on the myofascialrelease.com website.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Here are some other links you might find helpful.
https://teachmeanatomy.info/neck/nerves/phrenic/
https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988

Yes I have been tested for allergies. Dust, grass and certain drugs. I have covers on fabrics that can be washed, air purifier, no carpets. Don't do any outside work or around plants. Have a list of medicine that I can not take without going into antiphallic shock. Been there, done that.

Have done physical therapy for the back but not specifically for the breathing issues. They were treating me for COPD and asthma before they just found out the diaphragm problem. I see pulmonologist this month to talk about that. I am hoping to find out more on treatments at that time. And if I can cut out some of the meds I am on since it may be that I don't have COPD or asthma but were just mis-diagnosed. Any suggestions on questions I should ask him? Or treatments that I could try?

I live in small rural area. Have not heard of anyone that does MFR in this area. What type of doctor/facility offers this? I will have to do some research on this and if my insurance company will help.

I do use a cpap machine at night. They recently increased my pressure and it is helpful.

I will check those links. Thanks.

Yes I have been tested for allergies. Dust, grass and certain drugs. I have covers on fabrics that can be washed, air purifier, no carpets. Don't do any outside work or around plants. Have a list of medicine that I can not take without going into antiphallic shock. Been there, done that.

Have done physical therapy for the back but not specifically for the breathing issues. They were treating me for COPD and asthma before they just found out the diaphragm problem. I see pulmonologist this month to talk about that. I am hoping to find out more on treatments at that time. And if I can cut out some of the meds I am on since it may be that I don't have COPD or asthma but were just mis-diagnosed. Any suggestions on questions I should ask him? Or treatments that I could try?

I live in small rural area. Have not heard of anyone that does MFR in this area. What type of doctor/facility offers this? I will have to do some research on this and if my insurance company will help.

I do use a cpap machine at night. They recently increased my pressure and it is helpful.

I will check those links. Thanks.

Hi John. I had a paralyzed left diaphragm. I suffered for many years. I was treated for COPD..asthma for a long time. Until a specialist finally found the problem. Although it being kind of rare the specialist did not perform that type of surgery to correct it. He did some searching & found a doctor for me. I had the surgery about a year & half ago. It has been great! Before the surgery I wasn't able to rush around, climb any sort of upgraded area, or even carry things without being very short of breath. When it got so bad I couldn't make it across a highway on the crosswalk before the light changes over or being able to get into my car & needed to catch my breath before locking my seatbelt I knew I needed to do something because it seemed to be getting worse over the years.
Anyways this amazing doctor did a surgery which now has my right side diaphragm help work my left side lung now. It's great now! I even did some hiking after my recovery.