You are creating your own bad future. Running after your impact did not make it a permanent injury. Nor did any of your other activities cause a permanent injury. This is your anxiety talking. AND, it is telling you bad and erroneous stuff.

I was just under the belief that high blood pressure and heart rates too soon can cause more damage if brain tissue is still swollen from trauma.

Blood pressure is the issue, not heart rate. Heart rate is just an easier way to track exertion levels. But, the heart rates of concern are usually 120 to 150 or more, depending on the person. The Buffalo Protocol is not about causing damage from exercise. It is about Return to Play criteria. It is about conditioning the brain to tolerate exertion so there is a better expectation that the brain can tolerate another impact from play.

If exertion causes headaches, it just means the brain has not relearned how to control blood flow.

A damaging headache would be excruciating, not just annoying. It is still good to avoid those annoying headaches or learn relaxation techniques to reduces those annoying headaches.

My husband has had continuing heart rate issues. He never feels it but it shows up on his heart rate monitor. He had a thyroid test and his hormones are off which can be caused by head injury. Might want to check your hormones.

QUOTE=ConcussedEngineer;1217687]I have been having problems with my heart rate lately. When my symptoms are really strong my heart rate seems to be more normal, yet even when I exercise during these times my heart still feels like it is pounding hard in my chest. I have been having periods lately where my symptoms are not bad at all and I can read, drive, be in crowds, etc. without much problem (I actually feel good!), but my heart rate and the pounding sensation I get in my chest and some veins is really high. Usually my resting heart rate is 48-54 bpm, but during these times it's 60-70. I will also go through brief moments where my heart rate suddenly drops, but the pounding sensation increases. It makes it extremely hard to fall asleep and settle down. Had anyone had problems similar to this before, and if so what helped? I have done deep breathing and have been trying to exercise as much as possible, but they don't really seem to help.[/QUOTE]

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I am going to try this route once things calm down after summer, and I am not as busy. I think it is a good thing to look at, given that only my thyroid levels have been checked.

My heart rate seems to be getting more normal as I do more exercise, slowly building up. I still have problems when standing up and I have to sit back down or lay vertically, but I think it is getting better.

Concussed,

As Mark said 70 is not fast, it is where a lot of people dream of being heart wise.

My bp went up after my accident to 138/98. I had no idea it was PCS related until it dropped to my historical norm of 110/68. I had 2 doc appts in Nov 2015, 1.5 yrs after accident and the scone appt my bp was at my old rate and has stayed there since.

PCS is weird stuff.

Bud