← Return to Phrenic Nerve damage and paralyzed diaphragm: Anyone else have this?

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@nla4625

I'm so glad to find this post. I tried to find out what your symptoms are and couldn't find anything. I'm 77 and not very swift on the computer, sigh, It is confusing. My Pulmonary Function Tests indicate my lungs are working with normal parameters, yet my SNIFF test proved I have a left paralyzed diaphragm. I later found out from consulting the foremost authority in the country on diaphragm issues -- Dr. Mark Ginsburg at the Diaphragm Center at Columbia Medical Center in New York -- that my left lung isn't working at all. Thus, my heroic right lung learned over the years to compensate for my nonfunctioning left lung. There are several tests a neurologist can do to see what's going on with your phrenic nerve, including a nerve conduction test (EMG I think it us), MRI, etc. Does your chest x-ray show you have an elevated left or right diaphragm? If you think your diaphragm is paralyzed, please get a SNIFF test done to rule that in or out. Just knowing one way or the other will help you figure out next steps. I had it done in the radiology department of a large hospital. You've really been through a lot! Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Thanksgiving early!

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Replies to "I'm so glad to find this post. I tried to find out what your symptoms are..."

I am going to ask my doctor to order the sniff test . Thank you for the suggestion .
I have a left elevated Diaphram
Trouble breathing
My left Diaphram moves to my back and I have to move it forward manually and “ pull it up “
I think I need surgery cause this is a nerve damage problem that has slowly progressed over two years s a result from a complication / injury in a surgery I had .