What is a paralyzed diaphragm?
Your diaphragm is a large muscle that expands and contracts with each breath, supporting how you breathe air in and out. When you inhale, your diaphragm moves downward and opens the chest cavity to make room for air in the lungs. When you exhale, it relaxes and moves upward to push air out of the lungs.
When a diaphragm is paralyzed, it lacks the ability to move well. This impacts how well you can breathe and may cause pain in the chest and other symptoms. Unilateral paralysis affects one side of the diaphragm only, while bilateral paralysis affects both sides and often produces more serious symptoms.
Penn Medicine provides advanced respiratory care for adults who have breathing disorders or respiratory conditions, like diaphragm paralysis. We can diagnose and treat a paralyzed diaphragm to help you breathe better.
Symptoms of diaphragm paralysis
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically include:
- Shortness of breath, even when at rest
- Inability to breathe well in certain positions, like lying down
- Painful breathing
- Unusual fatigue
- Sleep disruption
- Headaches
- Recurring lung infections, like pneumonia
What causes a paralyzed diaphragm?
A paralyzed diaphragm often results from damage to the phrenic nerve that controls diaphragm function. This nerve damage may result from traumatic injuries, particularly to the spinal cord, or be a by-product of lung cancer or other conditions that put pressure on the nerve.
Certain underlying conditions may put you at greater risk of developing diaphragm nerve damage. They include:
- Neuromuscular diseases: Diseases like multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and muscular dystrophy may make you more vulnerable to developing a paralyzed diaphragm.
- Neuropathic illnesses: Thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders, and Guillain-Barré syndrome may contribute to developing the disease.
Diagnosing a paralyzed diaphragm
Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, review your medical history, and perform some in-office tests to assess lung function. Imaging tests may be ordered to evaluate whether the diaphragm is in its normal position between the chest and abdomen.
Paralyzed diaphragm treatment
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of diaphragm paralysis. You may not need treatment for a mild case of diaphragm weakness, though mechanical ventilation, cough assist machines, and other home-breathing therapies may help. Pulmonary rehabilitation or weight loss may also relieve symptoms. Antibiotics or steroids may be prescribed to ward off complications from respiratory infections. More serious or complex cases may require diaphragm pacing or plication surgery.
Compassionate, expert care for lung disease
Our physicians have deep experience diagnosing and treating complex lung diseases like diaphragm paralysis. We understand that living with a respiratory disease can be frustrating and draining, so we work closely with you to pinpoint a diagnosis quickly and create a care plan tailored for you. We consider the severity of your symptoms and your overall health to match our treatments to your medical needs and lifestyle.
For patients whose paralyzed diaphragm will require long-term or lifelong treatment, Penn Medicine’s Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation offers non-invasive ventilation options for adults who are living at home. Our program gives patients with chronic respiratory failure access to the latest mechanically assisted breathing treatments and technology to help maintain independence and quality of life.