what does phrenic nerve pain feel like

It is FREE! 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482227/), (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/digestive-disorders/symptoms-of-digestive-disorders/hiccups), (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513325/), (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557388/), (https://www.physio-pedia.com/Phrenic_Nerve), (https://radiopaedia.org/articles/phrenic-nerve), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. WebWhen the phrenic nerve is injured, the electrical signals in it stop traveling from the brain to the diaphragm muscle. That option is just not an easy one to swallow! It passes motor information to the diaphragm and receives sensory information from it. WebSummary. Lie flat on your back on the floor or on a bed. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Compression by the other structures in the chest. Repetitive nerve block for neuropathic pain management: a case report. This diaphragmatic paralysis is a serious disorder and can lead to respiratory infections and neurological problems. WebThe phrenic nerve can also be damaged from blunt or penetrating trauma[6], metabolic diseases like diabetes[7], infectious causes such as Lyme disease and herpes zoster[8][9], direct invasion by tumor Why does the phrenic nerve referred pain? Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. I have trouble breathing and going up stairs. WebPain is the most common symptom of a thoracic herniated disc and may be isolated to the upper back or radiate in a dermatomal (single nerve root) pattern. Hold it for 30 to 60 seconds to allow knots to loosen. This means there is direct damage or irritation to a nerve. information submitted for this request. --the symptoms of nerve regeneration, as the nerve growth cones fight through and around other tissue and send out weird signals that the brain has trouble interpreting, can feel very much like the symptoms of increasing nerve damage, at Signs of this potentially fatal complication. If youre suffering from nerve pain, our Neuropathic Therapy Center may be able to help using a breakthrough physical therapy treatment It should not be used for diagnosis or as a substitute for health care by your physician. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Depending on the location of phrenic nerve damage, paralysis may affect one side of your diaphragm (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). Other treatments may be used for chronic nerve pain as well, such as physical therapy or nerve blocks, which are performed by injecting chemicals or anesthetics to the area, or by deliberately cutting or damaging certain parts of the nerve. Since day one after the CT scan showed hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis (one sided), everything I have searched related to that, has resulted in phrenic nerve damage. I have a spinal cord stim implant that does take the edge off the pain as long as Im laying down. And it is bad when it is damaged. WebSummary. Hiccups that dont go away or come back often. These can be broken down by mechanism. Pain from this condition can travel from the lower back to the leg, and may include pins and needles, numbness, and even weakness in the affected area. But for people who deal with In: StatPearls. It truly can feel like you have a second heartbeat, and they can be so severe at times. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The phrenic nerves pass through the diaphragm upon reaching it. How Can You Help Median Nerve Damage Heal? Hiatal hernia. Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. Other symptoms of temporary paralysis include: Side stitches, or cramping in the ribcage, sometimes occur when you first begin exercise training or when that training becomes more intense. Noninvasive ventilation (such as CPAP or BiPAP), especially at night, Diaphragmatic placation: a surgery in which the diaphragm is "tacked down" with sutures to aid inspiration, Diaphragm pacemakers (if the phrenic nerves are still functional a pacemaker may work well), Mechanical ventilation (oftentimes, a tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation is required), Phrenic nerve reconstruction (a relatively new and very specialized procedure, reconstruction may be effective). over a year ago. The PFT showed decreased lung functions. A person with unilateral diaphragm paralysis may not have significant symptoms (with some causes like neuralgic amyotrophy, there may be shoulder pain and arm weakness on their affected side). In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Peripheral neuropathy care at Mayo Clinic. With phrenic nerve irritation, you might also experience: Your diaphragm can become temporarily paralyzed if youve had the wind knocked out of you from a direct hit to your abdomen. In some people, an accessory phrenic nerve is present and may supply the subclavius muscle. hiccups, cough, dyspnea, pleural effusion and thoracic pain. The phrenic nerve performs this function multiple times per minute throughout your lifetime. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Other possible effects include tiredness, sleepiness during the day, and snoring. WebBy: Resto. 13 People Explain What Its Really Like to Have a Migraine. If only one phrenic nerve is injured or diseased, you may not immediately notice anything wrong because enough air is being drawn in and out by one side of the diaphragm. [3] Technique Position the patient in supine lying with the lower extremity elevated (trendelenburg position). The left phrenic nerve sends signals to the left part of your diaphragm, while the right phrenic nerve controls your right side. Allodynia and hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain: clinical manifestations and mechanisms. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. While the Pain detected by the phrenic nerves is often felt in another region (referred pain). A significant decrease in lung capacity is noted whether a single or both nerves are damaged, with a decrease of roughly 50% due to one-sided injury and a decrease of 70% to 80% when both nerves are involved. When lower Im not sure this is what I am havingbut, I am an RN and I understood everything! Accessed March 25, 2019. The right phrenic nerve descends along the inner aspect of the lung and passes just lateral to the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. In the chest, it passes through the mediastinum, a space between the lungs that also contains the heart, blood vessels, esophagus (food pipe), and other nerves. Spinal cord injuries, especially above C5, often lead to paralysis of the diaphragm. Are Nerve Problems Causing Your Foot Pain? Fortunately, you can usually live a normal life even with one-sided diaphragmatic paralysis. What causes irritation of the phrenic nerve? The diagnosis is often made by visualizing the abnormal motion of the diaphragm on ultrasound or fluoroscopically. Its essential to breathing. McLeod Neurologist Olinda Spencer, MD, describes common causes, symptoms and treatments of neuropathy. We have worked with 3 different pulmonologists who all have told us much the same; there are 3 options. I fell down an elevator shaft several years ago and fractured my C4 in my neck. About the symptoms well, I am not that sure but I have heard that there are a lot of symptoms, for example from being asymptomatic or respiratory influence. Feel your stomach moving against your hand. Starts at the C3 vertebral level, the part that aligns with your jaw and helps you bend and rotate your neck. Oral medications, including chlorpromazine. what are the symptoms? Your nerve sends signals that cause your diaphragm to contract (become thicker and flatter). They enter the muscle and innervate it from the lower surface. Conditions associated with phrenic nerve function or dysfunction can range from benign hiccups to paralysis of both sides of the diaphragm and severe respiratory distress. There is a problem with Right after the hit, you may have difficulty breathing, as your diaphragm might struggle to fully expand and contract. Additionally, you can apply pressure with your hand to the pain point and bend backward and forward slowly. Therefore, the phrenic nerve and the breathing muscle on the side of the block are paralyzed by an interscalene nerve block. Peripheral neuropathy treatments. An expert surgeon will join the two ends of the phrenic nerve. Other times, your hands or It comes in any and all shapes and sizes and symptoms, Loeser says. over a year ago. The phrenic nerves begin in the neck (cervical spine) and travel to the right and left diaphragm to control contraction and inspiration. Paralysis of the diaphragm is caused by damage to both phrenic nerves. Feb. 10, 2021. The most common nerve issue that causes left shoulder pain is the Suprascapular nerve. If this injury happens in the lower part of thespine in that case breathing is not usually impacted. WebPhrenic nerve paralysis leads to a poor quality of life, as the person is plagued by chronic fatigue and shortness of breath. Additionally, nerve pain may be localized (felt at or near the area of nerve damage) or referred (felt somewhere else in the body). 2017;125(4):1169-1183. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000002289, Shchukin D, Lesovoy V, Garagatiy I, Khareba G, Hsaine R. Surgical approaches to supradiaphragmatic segment of IVC and right atrium through abdominal cavity during intravenous tumor thrombus removal. Surgery to the neck, chest, or liver can damage the nerve, and cardiac surgery is the most common cause of trauma to the phrenic nerve. Accessed March 25, 2019. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. You actually have two of these nerves the right and left phrenic nerves. Nervous tissue is one of the four types of tissue and is made up of neurons (nerve cells) and supporting cells called neuroglia. With some injuries causing only partial paralysis, function may return in time. Since recently, a friend of mine is having trouble catching his breath. Some people may not experience any outward symptoms with phrenic nerve injury. The nerves that control the movement of the diaphragm away from and towards the lungs as we breathe are known as the phrenic nerves. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time. It honestly feels like I cannot function.. Phrenic nerve stimulation for central sleep apnea: wiping out apnea or whipping the muscles? Headaches. 2017;3:17002. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.2, Jensen TS, Finnerup NB. Peripheral neuropathies. https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/causes/. Other possible effects include tiredness, 2014;2014:924269. doi:10.1155/2014/924269, John S, Tavee J. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases like, Complications from neck or chest surgeries, such as. Phrenic nerve damage can also happen during the neck injury. WebNeuropathic pain happens from short circuiting of the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the body because of damage from MS. Accessed March 26, 2019. Some people even notice that their ribs pop out and need chiropractic manipulation. The phrenic nerves run from the cervical spine to the diaphragm. Treatments for persistent hiccups include: These steps can keep your nervous system healthy: You should call your healthcare provider if you experience: Your phrenic nerves are critical to breathing. Pain or pressure in the chest, WebBy: Resto. He is currently working on contacting Dr. Kauffman again to arrange a video conference with my husband and myself, to see if my husband is a good candidate for the surgery. Lifestyle and home remedies include eating smaller meals, avoiding foods that can cause heartburn, avoiding alcohol, losing weight, and elevating the head of your bed. For some, it's a stabbing pain in the middle of the night. When the nerve is disrupted, it does not recover. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/09/2022. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Signs Something Could Be Wrong With Your Phrenic Nerve. If the nerve is damaged you can have trouble breathing. Health-n-joy349544 Ulnar nerve entrapment occurs when the nerve is compressed in the elbow or the hand and wrist. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Bloating. (1992). https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/. The pain is located over the acromioclavicular joint. J Atr Fibrillation. Central nervous system causes are possible as well. Chest pain- the muscles in the chest get pretty stressed when dealing with labored breathing and esophageal spasms. Other symptoms associated with diaphragm flutter include: Anecdotal evidence suggests that practicing controlled breathing can stop diaphragm spasms. National Pain Foundation. For others, symptoms can include a chronic prickling, tingling, Numbness and a prickling The accessory muscles of inspiration, such as the intercostal and abdominal muscles, provide some help. These movements allow your lungs to inhale and exhale air. Unexplained shoulder pain, especially with arm weakness. it is possible as a branch of the phrenic nerve does innervate the diaphragm. In addition, trauma from motor vehicle accidents or falls and chiropractic manipulation can result in injury to the phrenic nerve. Some people may not experience any outward symptoms with phrenic nerve injury. WebThe main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can include: numbness and tingling in the feet or hands burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas loss of balance and co Brown AY. He will focus on yoursevere shortness of breath. The referred pain due to irritation of the diaphragm and other regions the left phrenic nerve is usually felt on the tip of the left shoulder and referred to as the Kehr's sign. We do yet know the financials of how it will all work, whether insurance will help pay, what the recovery time will be, or any of those details as of yet, but at least we have a hope at this point that we did not have prior. When I brought this 4th option up to my husband's pulmonologist, he had never heard of it, but was willing to call Dr. Kauffman and discuss it with him. Ann Biomed Eng. 2015;3(5):370-372. doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2015.01.006, Verlinden TJM, Van dijk P, Herrler A, De gier-de vries C, Lamers WH, Khler SE. This variant may also receive branches from the brachial and cervical plexus. Difficulty swallowing (especially pills and WebWhen the phrenic nerve is injured, the electrical signals in it stop traveling from the brain to the diaphragm muscle. Sensations from these structures are carried to the brain but perceived as coming from the area supplied by the third, fourth, and fifth cervical nerves, so disorders of the pericardium and pleura actually cause pain in the shoulder and side of the neck. WebThe pain from this condition may spread from the buttocks to the back of the leg. 3) Learn to live with it. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Connects to the C4 and C5 vertebral levels in your neck, below the C3 vertebra. WebWhen the phrenic nerve is injured, the electrical signals in it stop traveling from the brain to the diaphragm muscle. Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. it is a sniff test, a pulmonary function test and an emg. As you inhale, your diaphragm contracts so your lungs can expand to let in oxygen; as you exhale, your diaphragm relaxes to let out carbon dioxide. Procedures like intercostal nerve transfer or phrenic nerve stimulation may then be required to restore diaphragmatic movement. Certain infections can cause neuropathy, such as HIV and Lyme disease. WebNerve pain due to spinal issues can feel like shooting pain that radiates around to the shoulder blade as a result of the pinched nerve. https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/evaluation-and-tests/. Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. Diaphragmatic pacing. Sciatica could be caused He has 56% lung function currently. Neurologist: DOKZOK, replied 2 day ago. You should: SOURCES:Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation: "The Important Phrenic Nerve. This multi-modal treatment approach can keep nerve pain symptoms under better control. WebYour phrenic nerves are critical to breathing. Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time.". Nearly a year ago, my husband began complaining of difficulty taking a deep breath, feeling pressure in the diaphragm area on the right side, particularly after eating. The neuroglia secrete a substance called myelin that lines the nerves and increases the rate of conduction (speed of nervous signal). This sounds really bad and dangerous, but unless you have severe lung disease, it usually doesn't create a problem. What is the outlook for a diaphragm spasm? Some kinds of infectious and neuromuscular diseases can also affect the phrenic nerves. If you have any of the following in addition to the pain described above, you may have nerve damage: Neuropathic pain is often treated with adjuvant analgesics, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants. This finding could have important implications with regard to nerve stimulation practices. 2013;280(17):4026-4035, Kokatnur L, Rudrappa M. Diaphragmatic palsy. They cause your diaphragm to become smaller or larger so your lungs can inhale and exhale air. People with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing, burning or tingling. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle. WebWhat does C7 nerve pain feel like? Damage to a phrenic nerve can lead to a paralyzed diaphragm. Hey guys. WebThe diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. It's also important to treat the underlying cause of the phrenic nerve injury. It sends signals that cause your diaphragm to expand and contract. It grants freedom from the mechanical ventilator, enables speech, and improves quality of life. He is currently the only doctor in the world who does this surgery, and has a fairly high success rate, though that is improved if done within the first 8-12 months of symptomatology first presenting. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of Diaphragm and diaphragmatic pleura (thin tissue covering the upper part of your diaphragm). According to the symptoms, your doctor can be able to determine the proper treatment for phrenic nerve damage. A spinal cord injury between C3 and C5 can cause. If one nerve is affected, you will receive one implant, and if both are affected, you will receive two. The newly formed nerve travels a long distance through the chest to reach the diaphragm. Damaged phrenic nerves can be treated with ventilation, diaphragm pacemakers, or surgery. Tumors or other structures that press on the phrenic nerve may lead to damage, including:. For example, you can feel the pain in the tip of the shoulder. If you want to get notified by every reply to your post, please register. The phrenic nerve regularly stimulates it to contract. Peripheral neuropathy risk factors include: Complications of peripheral neuropathy can include: The best way to prevent peripheral neuropathy is to manage medical conditions that put you at risk, such as diabetes, alcoholism or rheumatoid arthritis. Learn to take note of what your pain feels like during your everyday life. Even if my husband never regains 100% lung function, we would consider 75-80% a huge improvement over the current 56% he has now. JACC Heart Fail. Also, you should learn to know what is the difference when the nerve is irritated and when nerve is damaged. There are a number of possible causes of phrenic nerve injury leading to paralysis of the diaphragm. Right phrenic nerveDescends anteriorly over the second part of the right subclavian artery.Passes lateral to the right brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava .Runs anterior to the hilum of the right lung .Passes along the fibrous pericardium of the right atrium and pierces the diaphragm near the inferior vena cava opening. If both phrenic nerves are damaged, though, breathing is dramatically impaired. Signs of a bilateral paralyzed diaphragm include: Sometimes, an irritated phrenic nerve causes persistent hiccups that last for days or even a month or longer. In addition, they are often responsible for the referred pain to the shoulder that can accompany abdominal disorders. Pain that usually begins in a specific location, such as the buttock, hip, thigh, leg, or foot and gradually spreads to other areas of the leg. A lot of people dont know the importance of phrenic nerve. Microsurgery. The diagnosis is sometimes challenging as symptoms can mimic those of a number of heart and lung conditions. C7 nerve pain is a type of neuropathy that is caused by compression or damage to the C7 nerve root in your cervical spine. They can affect your ability to talk, sleep and eat. The phrenic nerve controls the diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle that is primarily responsible for breathing. This causes the lungs to expand, drawing air into them. Mine is a result of a motor vehicle accident in which I received a whiplash injury and closed skull injury. To prevent side stitches before a workout, perform core stretches, including the one described above. When this diaphragm moves, this pulls or pushes air into your lungs and your phrenic nerve helps to keep your body breathing automatically. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Since nerves such as the phrenic nerve do not regenerate, complete disruption of the nerve will lead to permanent paralysis of the diaphragm. While many different treatments have been tested, applying anesthesia to the phrenic nerve (one potential treatment) can give rise to another set of problems. Even people paralyzed because of a spinal injury can often breathe by themselves because the phrenic nerves remain functional. Mayo Clinic. For others, the pain may be severe and nearly unbearable. After doing so, he was actually very excited about this cutting edge treatment option, and equally excited that there is a 4th option to offer his future patients potentially. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. The phrenic nerves play an important role in breathing. Its the only nerve in your nervous system that provides motor (movement) function to your diaphragm. Hello everyone. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy. I realize the posts here are nearly a year old, but I felt compelled to contribute for anyone who happens to stumble upon it in the future. Take the Next Step. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, especially if lying flat requires more pillows behind your head makes it easier to breathe. Review/update the Other symptoms may include chest wall pain, cough, fatigue, anxiety, and morning headache. It is also very common during surgery for congenital heart disease in infants. WebNerve pain due to spinal issues can feel like shooting pain that radiates around to the shoulder blade as a result of the pinched nerve. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with Oswald Lind. For some people, drinking juice or eating right before a workout can increase the possibility of side stiches. Policy. You can even continue exercising while holding the stretch. WebBrachial neuritis is a form of peripheral neuropathy that affects the chest, shoulder, arm and hand. Because nerve pain is unique, it has some medical buzzwords associated with it. There is no function in the right diaphragm. Thanks for taking the time! Also, you can have problems with the hiccups and the hiccups can be triggered by phrenic nerve irritation. With new technologies and imaging equipment, doctors are more prepared than ever to determine the cause of a diaphragm spasm and come up with a positive treatment plan. Thank you for your information. Facial pain encompasses every type of pain in the Neuropathic Pain: Symptoms. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Neuropathy is the technical term for nerve damageor when your nerves arent working the way they should. It can also affect other areas and body functions including digestion, urination and circulation. The condition can be caused by a spinal cord injury, physical trauma, or surgical complications. A phrenic nerve disorder on one side can especially cause breathing difficulty in people with obesity, heart disease, or lung disorders.. For example, chronic hiccups can be related to conditions such as hepatitis, Crohn's disease, and ulcers via sensory input to the phrenic nerve. Vagus nerve and phrenic nerve irritation are known causes of chronic hiccups. Both phrenic nerves are supplied by the pericardiophrenic artery, which is a branch of the internal thoracic artery, and the superior phrenic vein. To report technical issues, please contact us. Accessed March 25, 2019. A 2018 study found that there are communicating fibers between the phrenic nerve and the sympathetic trunk, and that the phrenicoabdominal branch of the right phrenic nerve is a branch of the celiac plexus. His cough improved after 2-3 months, but the other symptoms did not improve, rather, they gradually worsened. In order to be sure, I want you guys to tell me about the symptoms of phrenic nerve damage so I could compare them to the symptoms whichmy friend has. Chronic hiccups: an underestimated problem. Read our, Neuropathic, Autoimmune, and Infectious Processes, Endotracheal Tube: Purpose, What to Expect, and Risks, The Anatomy of the Superior Laryngeal Nerve, Causes of Collarbone Pain and Treatment Options, A Powerful Straw-Like Device Could Cure Your Hiccups, Cervical spondylosis as a possible hidden reason beyond delayed phrenic nerve distal motor latency, MRI reconstructions of human phrenic nerve anatomy and computational modeling of cryoballoon ablative therapy, Development of the diaphragm a skeletal muscle essential for mammalian respiration, Pancoast's tumour presenting as shoulder pain in an orthopaedic clinic, Phrenic nerve stimulation for central sleep apnea: wiping out apnea or whipping the muscles, The human phrenic nerve serves as a morphological conduit for autonomic nerves and innervates the caval body of the diaphragm, Chronic hiccups: an underestimated problem, Surgical approaches to supradiaphragmatic segment of IVC and right atrium through abdominal cavity during intravenous tumor thrombus removal, Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis due to cervical chiropractic manipulation, Comparison of phrenic nerve injury during atrial fibrillation ablation between different modalities, pathophysiology and management. Cervical spondylosis as a possible hidden reason beyond delayed phrenic nerve distal motor latency. I have had breathing issues ever since. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. He also had to have a heart catheterization to rule out any blockages of his arteries, which came back perfect. It happens when a sudden contraction of your diaphragm causes muscles in your chest and abdomen to shake and your vocal cords to, Hiccups are repetitive, uncontrollable contractions of the diaphragm. Ablation for arrhythmias, or radio-frequency ablation for conditions such as atrial fibrillation, carries a risk for phrenic nerve injury. What Is Thyroidectomy And Why Is It Performed? WebWhat does C7 nerve pain feel like? Let's take a closer look. He is an avid ping pong player and does not have pain or shortness of breath with playing ping pong. WebA phrenic nerve disorder on one side can especially cause breathing difficulty in people with obesity, heart disease, or lung disorders. privacy practices. These nerves are vulnerable to injury and can cause serious problems when damaged. This stimulates the phrenic nerve periodically, causing diaphragmatic activity and breathing. I have been going in and out of Afib, my asthma has come back, out of breath, told I have an elevated right Diaphragm, have to think about breathing, etc.