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

Posted by jgreg1954 @jgreg1954, Nov 28, 2017

Phrenic nerve on the right side was destroyed due to radiation for breast cancer. Diaphragm is now paralyzed & taking away lung capacity. Anyone else experience this?

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dina2474 | @dina2474 | Nov 15, 2023

In reply to @sonshine161 "My doctor said it was my recurrent nerve which ties into the Vagus nerve." + (show)

My daughter had the same surgery and lost her voice. It has come back some but we are still waiting. She has also had abdominal pain and nausea since the surgery. All tests and labs are normal. Did you have any persistent abdominal pain after your pneumonectomy?

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Nov 10, 2023

@dondon1 Another patient shared this information about a surgeon, Dr. Kaufman, who does a nerve graft to replace a damaged phrenic nerve for a paralyzed diaphragm. Here is a link to his practice and a paper he authored. I don't have experience with this, but wanted to pass along the information.
https://www.advancedreconstruction.com/find-care/surgeons/matthew-kaufman-md-facs-physician
"Phrenic nerve paralysis and phrenic nerve reconstruction surgery "
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36031309/

dondon1 | @dondon1 | Nov 10, 2023

In reply to @giller198 "I was diagnosed with a paralyzed right diaphragm back in January. I also have shortness of..." + (show)

yes in Nov 2018 brain decompromission , and now in June 2023, I have left side paralyzed diaphragm and I am in the hospital constantly without prednisone I can't breath it is horrible. Doctors want to tack the diagram but I want someone to look at the nerve and put the device in. Not sure why so many doctors are scared of this procedure. This is a horrible quality of life in my case.

sonshine161 | @sonshine161 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @vic83 "Thanks for the info ...that helps" + (show)

My doctor said it was my recurrent nerve which ties into the Vagus nerve.

vic83 | @vic83 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @sonshine161 "I think he told me after. My voice was hoarse and i couldn’t get more than..." + (show)

Thanks for the info ...that helps

sonshine161 | @sonshine161 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @sonshine161 "I think he told me after. My voice was hoarse and i couldn’t get more than..." + (show)

It took about four or five months to get better and I’ve heard some have to wait a year.

sonshine161 | @sonshine161 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @vic83 "Thanks for your prompt reply. Did your surgeon tell you up front or after? Was it..." + (show)

I think he told me after. My voice was hoarse and i couldn’t get more than three or four words out without stopping to take a breath. It was weak. I spoke to a voice and swallowing clinic at Oregon Health and Science where i live. They offered me different temporary treatments which didn’t last more than several days. I opted to have an implant but my voice started to get better a month before the surgery. At first i couldn’t tell the difference but more and more friends told me my voice was getting better. It’s pretty much normal now. I know what you’re going through, it’s awful.

vic83 | @vic83 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @sonshine161 "I had apneumonectomy in November. My surgeon said he had to sacrifice my vocal cord. I..." + (show)

Thanks for your prompt reply. Did your surgeon tell you up front or after?
Was it as I describe? I can only whisper in measured words. But my throat is not sore. I am not talking much but it is not getting better.
Living without a voice can be a real handicap. I am happy you got yours back. Is it normal?

sonshine161 | @sonshine161 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @vic83 "How do you know your phrenic nerve was damaged? Did they test and tell you? I..." + (show)

I had apneumonectomy in November. My surgeon said he had to sacrifice my vocal cord. I was scheduled to get a surgical implant to fix my voice but it came back in its own After 5 months. Thank God. Living without a voice is hell. Maybe you’ll catch a break.

vic83 | @vic83 | May 22, 2023

In reply to @sonshine161 "My phrenic nerve damage is the result of a pneumonectomy last week. My voice is hoarse..." + (show)

How do you know your phrenic nerve was damaged? Did they test and tell you?
I had video assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer 3 days ago and I lost my voice immediately. I have no volume and can only speak in a whisper and it is hoarse. I have never lost my voice before. I asked the attending surgeon of the day who only replied she was not worried but offered no information on it, or how long it would take for my voice to get back to normal. I live alone and it is now hard for me to communicate with others on the phone.