[Unilateral painful diaphragm paralysis as the only sign of amyotrophic neuralgia]

Abstract

Amyotrophic neuralgia is an inflammatory and idiopathic neuropathy which is characterised by neuropathic pain. It was described for the first time in 1948 as condition that only affected the brachial plexus and was called Parsonage-Turner syndrome. Although this syndrome is more common in the brachial plexus, it can concomitantly, or in isolation affect the phrenic nerve, and in this case the diagnosis is very difficult if there is no high clinical suspicion. We present a case of a patient with amyotrophic neuralgia in which the only sign was left phrenic involvement, and we highlight the resistance of the pain to analgesics, as well as the persistence of the symptoms and diaphragm problems for over 6 months.