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Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis

What is Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis?

Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis is a rare condition characterized by profound abnormalities of pulmonary and respiratory muscle function.

 

Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis is a rare condition characterized by profound abnormalities of pulmonary and respiratory muscle function.
Acknowledgement of Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet.
Prevalence Information of Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet.
Synonyms for Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet.
During the initial search for possible causes -Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy was mentioned due to test done on arms and legs. Also mentioned is old injury to diaphgram area years ago but discounted by doctors. My sleep apnea developed after injury then this problem. My being over weight is also a possible cause. If I gain weight my breathing becomes a problem.
Name Description
Immersion in Water on Muscle Function and Breathing doi: 10.1378/chest.125.6.2069 CHEST June 2004 vol. 125 no. 6 2069-2074 Dyspnea is a common symptom in patients with diaphragm weakness or paralysis. In particular, dyspnea may be aggravated by immersion. We hypothesized that immersion to the neck in water would decrease vital capacity and consequently increase the demand/capacity ratio of the respiratory muscles.
Diagnosis of Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet.
Diagnostic tests of Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet
Treatments of Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet.
Although this is frightening - not being able to breathe- it can be worked through. Lung function can grow from 45% initially to over 70% or higher. If the cause is phrenic nerve damage there is possible regeneration, or stimulation, etc. There will be lifestyle changes since less oxygen = reduced energy.
Name Description
swimming Watch out when you swim that you always can reach the ground. With swimming there is no ability to take air in when prone. If you stand the gravity works for you to allo0w taking air in. Short dips are going to be the limit. DO NOT DIVE IN AND TRY TO SWIM WITHOUT KNOWING HOW DEEP YOU ARE!!
References of Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis has not been added yet.
Archie's Update Created by Archie
Last updated 28 Sep 2019, 01:41 PM

Adjusting Created by grahamom
Last updated 24 Jun 2014, 10:47 PM

Posted by Archie
24 Jun 2014, 10:47 PM

I had a physical Jan 2014 in which everything seemeed ‘normal’ except for the breathing problem. Blood work was ‘perfect’. Over the years I have learned to work with the physical limits I have. I often wonder if the people that die from heart attacks are really sometimes caught with this breathing problem but were unable to get air before passing out and dying. I mentioned this to doctors who tell me that I don’t know what I am talking about. The interesting thing is when I first came to the hospital years ago- all the medical energy was spent taking care of my heart since it was racing, blood pressure was up, headache, etc. Just a note --Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy had also been mentioned at the start of the problem. Doing -OK

Posted by Archie
28 Feb 2011, 09:41 PM

I had an exam last week and found out that I am about the same as I was last year as far as the different mechanical test are concerned. I am now used to the condition and have made life style changes. My love of water activities has been curtailed to a large extent even thought I still get wet but watch out depth and the area. When I was working thru disability rulings I thought an old injury that hit my diaphgram area back in 1997 was the primary cause. All the doctors said there was too much time between that accident and my problem. That accident had caused a trip to emergency and was documented with Workers Compensation. Sleep apnea developed after the accident. This developed after the sleep apnea. Oh, by the way I don't smoke and enjoyed an active life with sports,swimming, hiking, worked in construction,etc. I think the doctors could not explain the cause and therefore would not entertain any possibilities

Posted by grahamom
14 Mar 2010, 05:20 AM

So your diaphragm never came back? There is some hope that it will/may - At least the L side, or more likely the L - I received IVIG when diagnosed on that side - with the R didn't really know what was going on - thought it was due to this brace I was wearing post hamstring repaing and extremely rapid deconditioning (wrong on both counts!) The headaches I had but only at first - though my pulmonolgist did get me a bipap machine thinking I was underventilating so much I was retaining CO2. But I think my body is adjusting - I can sleep lying down, flat even! - and am finding I can go a bit further in Yoga, riding bikes.....I have no underlying pulm disease, so I feel incredibly fortunate that it is truly only (?) a mechanical issue.....Did both sides go at once for you? did they ever figure out "what" was the cause? Autoimmune? That's what they think mine is.....trigger by 1) surgery then 2) a virus. Guess my hope to be a deep sea skin diver are out! (just kidding....never wanted to be!)

View Full Thread (2 more posts)
Medical ID Bracelet,etc Created by Archie
Last updated 4 Jan 2010, 02:14 PM

Posted by Archie
4 Jan 2010, 02:14 PM

At this point I am looking to get a medical ID bracelet but these are limited to the amount of information they can carry. Due to the condition even the doctors don't know what is most critical to have available. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Swimming Created by Archie
Last updated 20 Jul 2009, 01:38 PM

Posted by Archie
20 Jul 2009, 01:38 PM

I have always loved swimming and have in the water since I was little. This year when the pools opened after the hoilday I took my daughter & a friend for swimming. I found that with this diagonsis I prevents me from going under like I used to do. The water bouancy affects the lungs. Without a diaphgram and with the water supporting the body there is no way to get air into the lungs. If I am in the water my lung capacity is related directly to the amount of body (chest area) out of the water. Full breath results when I I am standing in the pool waist deep. The breathing capacity decreases as I lover myself. Just a word. You can dive in as long as you can get right back out!!.

What treatments are possible? Created by Archie
Last updated 1 Mar 2009, 12:29 AM

Posted by Archie
1 Mar 2009, 12:29 AM

I am currently in Pulmonary Rehab which I think is helping. The orginal testing in Oct '08 for the phrenic nerve was not able to find anything. Since no one has found a cause it is labeled idiopathic-NO KNOWN CAUSE. I went from fairly active one day to emergency room and breathing problem the next. What the difference a day makes. There seems to be no known cure but, possibe idiopathic cure. . I am located in the Washington D.C. metro area where there are doctors who are also learning as I go thru this process. Neurogolist at George Washington are using IVIG treating this as CIDP (Chronic Infammatory Demylenation Polyneuropathy) --eyesight seems to be getting better --not sure of breathing.

Posted by Archie
28 Feb 2009, 04:05 AM

I was orginally diagnosised Aug 2008. Ogrinal lung function was 45% but that has increased. I have been involved with IVIG treatments 5 days a week for the past 3 months. Current lung function is about 70%. Improvement is also helped by Pulmonary Rehab which is strenghtening chest muscles since the diaphrgam doesn't work.

Community Resources
Title Description Date Link
Diaphragmatic Paralysis

eMedicine from WebMd description

03/20/2017

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Boston area musician
Have hx of bilateral brachial neropathy 20 years ago; 10/09 developed R diaphragm paralysis following surgery; 2/10 developed L diaphagm paralysis following an acute bout of the flu - both...
In November of 2005 I was diagnosed with bilateral diaphramgatic paralysis. On Christmas Eve I went into surgery where I was given a tracheostomy.

construction inspector and master electrician married with daughter

Retired- still married-- 45 years and counting


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Archie's Update

Created by Archie | Last updated 28 Sep 2019, 01:41 PM

Adjusting

Created by grahamom | Last updated 24 Jun 2014, 10:47 PM

Medical ID Bracelet,etc

Created by Archie | Last updated 4 Jan 2010, 02:14 PM

Swimming

Created by Archie | Last updated 20 Jul 2009, 01:38 PM

What treatments are possible?

Created by Archie | Last updated 1 Mar 2009, 12:29 AM


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