Dysfunctional diaphragm/air hunger/bad breathing

Jun 12 (edited) • Progress Logs and Wins

and friends!! I have a big win here! Your suggestions have been very helpful - yet, I wanted to add more notes in case this helps anyone else. Sometimes an outside help is needed or, at least, can be useful. In this case, a massage therapist. (For anyone curious, the original thread was called "Paralyzed Diaphragm???": https://www.skool.com/mauricedaher/paralyzed-diaphragm )

During a recent appt, therapist noted (as they all have over the past decade) that I have the tightest scalene and SCM (neck muscles) she has come across. (This was my first massage in about 5 years FYI). So, instead of the whole body massage I wanted.. she proceeded to gently RIP my neck apart for 1.5 hours, in addition to areas in the chest and near the armpit called the brachial plexus. (for those curious.. that is where all the nerves 'converge' before continuing down into the arm). I tell you it was a shock to me that my breathing improved almost overnight. I felt as if my upper chest expanded an extra inch, I could take in larger breaths! During activity, I no longer get so out of breath I feel like kneeling. Now it's just the normal tiredness a fat out of shape man should experience. Also, the air hunger has quieted down immensely! It is now much easier to hold the exhale without feeling like i am dying. So, yes, neck stretches were helpful (and I still do them daily!) but the 'massage' (and i use the term loosely , lol) accelerated the results a thousand-fold. The following week I went back and she then concentrated on the intercostal muscles (the muscles in-between the rib bones that help chest expansion) and the diaphragm itself. She also concluded it's not paralyzed - as you and i both guessed. But boy, she dug in there deep - at one point she asked my how I was doing and I couldn't talk because she hit a spot where I was having an emotional release and almost couldn't stop myself from crying. Both massages were very helpful for increasing my breathing ability. Also, I started the NAC supplement for liver health as you suggested. I found out this is a good supplement for people with lung issues. So double help. I used to have a crackle in my exhale. That crackle has all but disappeared! I no longer sound like a 90 year old coal miner with black lung when I breathe. It is utterly amazing! NAC and massage therapy for the win. Continued diligence to maintain!

Now I wonder how much effect tight neck muscles might have on the thyroid? Thoughts?

Also, emotional release during massage. Emotions/stress held in muscles. If that could be held in skeletal muscles, could it also be held in the involuntary muscles (intestines, heart, etc)? Thoughts?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

3 comments

Dysfunctional diaphragm/air hunger/bad breathing