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

@dlfreed01 Hi what does the surgery consist of?

I had an epidural in my neck and they damaged the phrenic nerve over a year ago. As a result, my left diaphragm is paralyzed. I'm having surgery 2/4.

@alison2 I’m going through the same thing and am still in hospital I had an ablation 3 weeks ago Breathing is very hard and I’m told recovery is months I’m not keen on any surgery I am in Australia

The assumption is during my schwanoma brachial plexus surgery 35 years ago they nicked my phrenic nerve which resulted in a slightly paralyzed diaphragm on right side.
Overall, my oxygen level seem to be good except when I sleep on my left side which causes deoxidation. I also get winded walking uphill and swimming is not really possible. Inhalation seems to be OK but I don’t think my lungs exhale well and my CO2 levels tend to rise which gives me shortness of breath. Has anyone gotten pulmonary exercises for this? I tried CPAP but had a very difficult time with it and it did not appear to help ..The thing that helps most is sleeping on the side where my diaphragm is weakest .
Has anyone had the surgery to strengthen the diagram?

Schwanoma was a benign tumor not a Sonoma;)

I had a Sonoma on my brachial plexus nerve that was removed 35 years ago. I had shortness of breath after the surgery, which all of the doctors dismissed a few years ago. I finally was officially diagnosed with a dysfunctional diaphragm as I’ve aged. It appears it’s gotten weaker. I’m curious what are the best exercises people have used to strengthen their diaphragm. Walking uphill, playing some sports and now sleeping on my left side is difficult.

This is quite informative. I will ask my neurologist about it.
Thanks!

I have phrenic nerve paralysis on left side diaphragm is leaning on lung causing shortness of breath with exertion.

I have no pain from mine.

I have had phrenic nerve palsy on my left side since 1995 when I was 22. The nerve was damaged by a grapefruit sized mediastinal tumor (nonHodgkins lymphoma B-cell). I had the paralysis confirmed by radiology and had a nerve study done so I could have a consult with Dr. Kaufman. My phrenic nerve still delivers signal, just not at the threshold to fire, so it is possible my diaphragm could resume functioning if the nerve repair was done. I had a consult with Dr. Kaufman and he told me he would not try the nerve repair due to the invasive nature as the injury is in my chest. I don’t want to do the surgery where they pin it down (plication?) because I don’t want it to lose the possibility of function. I hope somebody someday actually can repair it. I sleep with a CPAP because I have severe apnea during REM sleep only. That wasn’t diagnosed until 2009 or so but was likely happening for almost 15 years. My stomach or intestines sometimes are up against my diaphragm in X-rays. Sometimes my stomach grumbles from my left breast which is awkward. When my stomach is tilted up there, the gas builds up and I can’t burp which is uncomfortable. I have to tip my torso to the left and flex my core to help myself burp. I may have a hiatal hernia developing because of doing this daily for 30 years. I have recently noticed some swallowing issues. Also some reflux because I’m sure the pressure to burp is hard on the valve. But I’m in good shape, exercise 5 days a week, maintain a healthy weight/BMI. My oncologist said I would never run a marathon. At one point I wanted to prove him wrong. Around 2015 tried working up to sustain a jog over the course of six months. I could never get more than “run a minute, walk a minute” for a max of an hour. And the exertion I think caused mild inflammation of the other phrenic nerve, and cramping in my chest muscles so I finally quit. I stick to yoga, walking, core work. I am 52 now. It’s been 30 years. Phrenic nerve palsy will cause initial feelings of not being able to breathe well, especially at night. And it contributes to apnea. But your body can acclimate, especially if you’re in good shape.