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

I have left side hemi diaphragm paralysis. It was caused by having C2/7 neck surgery in February 1925 I work from Surgery with CP palsy, unable to use my hand or arm. While recovering, I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t getting well. I wasn’t regaining strength or stamina and my breathing was getting worse. Everyone said, including the surgeon that it was just surgery. I was recovering. It’s a long recovery 18 to 24 months I knew they were wrong. I continued searching answers seeing Cardiology gastroenterology, neurology, emergency room doctors twice and also my primary care I finding landed with Pulmonary and a five minute examination listening to me breathe and doing percussion my doctor knew exactly what was wrong with me. I had a PFT sitting up & lying down, Sniffer also standing and lying down, then I had EMG of both my Phrenic nerves and my diaphragm. It was determined that my Phrenic Nerve was intact and had not been cut. It was likely irritated or bruised by the surgery at C3/4 my doctor then sent me to Cleveland, Ohio as I was a great candidate for diaphragmatic pacer. My pacer was installed December 10 by Dr. Raymond Onders. In Cleveland Ohio the doctor that developed the pacer along with Synapse biomedical. I am seeing good results. I was told it could take a couple of years, but that this is a temporary device. It’s likened to PT, but for the diaphragm it gives the diaphragm a shock 16 times a minute, which is my normal respiration rate the diaphragm being a muscle is being exercised and also the Phrenic Nerve is getting the signal if you’re Phrenic Nerve has been severed diaphragmatic pacer is not an option. I’m excited about the good things that I am seeing.

Yes! That is exactly what happened to me. I am in remission from Triple Negative Breast Cancer since January 2022.
I did do 24 out of 30 radiation treatments.

Radiation has destroyed parts of my nervous system! My right arm and left leg give me a lot of pain. Both of my feet burn a
Along with both calves and shin at night when I go to bed. It is very painful.
I have been diagnosed with polyneuropathy and peripheral neuropathy along with fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia.
Plus so much more.
I have chronic spinal stenosis in my neck and my lower back S-1,L3,L4.
Pinched nerve in lower back. Degenerative Dis Disease, plus COPD/ Asthma overlap syndrome. Emphysema.and just recently diagnosed with Arterial Hypoventilation syndrome I kind of wish that I didn’t get radiation. All I want to do is sleep. I hurt everywhere due to fibromyalgia. My wrists hurt due to carpal tunnel!! Some days I just want to give up! I’m 63.

He is doing a plication of my diaphragm.

@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!