Paralyzed right side of diaphragm: How to treat?

Posted by sdstoryteller @sdstoryteller, Jul 21, 2021

After much testing it is determined the right side of my diAphragm is paralyzed. Thoughts,ideas,treatments,etc. thank you

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@sdstoryteller Hello and welcome to Connect. I am a Mayo patient and I like to welcome new members here. This sounds like a difficult situation for you. I don't have experience with a paralyzed diaphragm, but there have been other patients on here sharing information, and there is a surgeon who does a phrenic nerve graft to re-innervate the diaphragm and get it functioning again. Here is the link to information.

Phrenic nerve grafting
https://www.advancedreconstruction.com/

This link is about plication surgery.
"Long-term results of diaphragmatic plication in adults with unilateral diaphragm paralysis"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996377/

Has this condition been disabling to you? Does this sound like something you may want to pursue? I hope you will find a solution and path back to good health.

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Thank you for your time and information. I have an appointment with a pulmanologist the 19th of August. So anxious to hear what he has to say. I had not heard about phenic nerve grafting and very anxious to pursue this info. I have labored with this problem off and on for some time . Considering some of the side effects...i wake up at 4AM , weight gain..."heavy breathing"...heart burn, etc...I think the doctor in the xray department who did my "sniff" test was correct in saying this has not just happened. But, thanks to an alert and pursuant hospitalist this was found and now i am on the road to finding what is the next step. i would appreciate any information from those having this condition and how they cope with it. I am a person who just keeps on keeping on and not sure what to do with my "Keep ONs" I might also mention , I have fibromyalgia that was diagnosed by a rheumatologist at least 30 years ago. I am not sure how this may affect my diaphram ...maybe not at all. thank you again....

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@jenniferhunter

@sdstoryteller Hello and welcome to Connect. I am a Mayo patient and I like to welcome new members here. This sounds like a difficult situation for you. I don't have experience with a paralyzed diaphragm, but there have been other patients on here sharing information, and there is a surgeon who does a phrenic nerve graft to re-innervate the diaphragm and get it functioning again. Here is the link to information.

Phrenic nerve grafting
https://www.advancedreconstruction.com/

This link is about plication surgery.
"Long-term results of diaphragmatic plication in adults with unilateral diaphragm paralysis"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996377/

Has this condition been disabling to you? Does this sound like something you may want to pursue? I hope you will find a solution and path back to good health.

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I had a parysed left diaphragm ! It was non functioning and was pushed way up into my left lung ! I had surgery July 15th and the surgeon used a robotic procedure ! While in my chest, he corrected the middle of my diaphragm where it was bowed up and he got it down where it was level ! My breathing is better now !

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@seniordon09

I had a parysed left diaphragm ! It was non functioning and was pushed way up into my left lung ! I had surgery July 15th and the surgeon used a robotic procedure ! While in my chest, he corrected the middle of my diaphragm where it was bowed up and he got it down where it was level ! My breathing is better now !

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Seniordon, it is uplifting to read a positive outcome story. Were you having chest surgery for something else or was the surgery specifically to help the paralyzed diaphragm?

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@sdstoryteller

Thank you for your time and information. I have an appointment with a pulmanologist the 19th of August. So anxious to hear what he has to say. I had not heard about phenic nerve grafting and very anxious to pursue this info. I have labored with this problem off and on for some time . Considering some of the side effects...i wake up at 4AM , weight gain..."heavy breathing"...heart burn, etc...I think the doctor in the xray department who did my "sniff" test was correct in saying this has not just happened. But, thanks to an alert and pursuant hospitalist this was found and now i am on the road to finding what is the next step. i would appreciate any information from those having this condition and how they cope with it. I am a person who just keeps on keeping on and not sure what to do with my "Keep ONs" I might also mention , I have fibromyalgia that was diagnosed by a rheumatologist at least 30 years ago. I am not sure how this may affect my diaphram ...maybe not at all. thank you again....

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sdstoryteller, I recommend you also review this related discussion in the Lung Health group:
- Paralyzed Diaphragm https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/paralyzed-diaphragm/

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@seniordon09

I had a parysed left diaphragm ! It was non functioning and was pushed way up into my left lung ! I had surgery July 15th and the surgeon used a robotic procedure ! While in my chest, he corrected the middle of my diaphragm where it was bowed up and he got it down where it was level ! My breathing is better now !

Jump to this post

@seniordon09 Thank you for your update. I am so glad that your surgeon could improve your breathing and thank you for sharing that knowledge on Connect!

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@seniordon09

I had a parysed left diaphragm ! It was non functioning and was pushed way up into my left lung ! I had surgery July 15th and the surgeon used a robotic procedure ! While in my chest, he corrected the middle of my diaphragm where it was bowed up and he got it down where it was level ! My breathing is better now !

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@sdstoryteller. This is wonderful news! Congratulations!

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I was recently diagnosed with right sided paralyzed diaphragm. I’ve been reading a lot about plication surgery. Anyone here have it with success?

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@dberrios

I was recently diagnosed with right sided paralyzed diaphragm. I’ve been reading a lot about plication surgery. Anyone here have it with success?

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Dberrios, I think fellow members @machak @giller198 @grump @nla4625 may have considered or had plication surgery and might be able to share experiences.

Has this been suggested as an option for you?

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My case was recurrent paresis, so it wasn’t an option for me. My right hemidiaphragm they thought was paralyzed and were recommending plication. However, when we were deciding on the surgery it started working again. Turns out to be autoimmune illness hitting the nerve and stopping it at times, but when the illness calms down the nerve repairs. Plication was recommended when the problem seemed permanent to help prevent lung infections in the collapsed area and help me breathe better. We were about to say yes when It started working again.

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