I've been working with a Neuro PT specialist since January (I got hurt in June 2013, worked with an ortho PT who suspected I had a concussion and worked to have me transferred to the Neuro specialist at a related facility, which took a few months).

Our first session was an evaluation, followed by some very easy-looking movements that were incredibly, frustratingly difficult and symptom-provoking. I started out doing "head turns" where I focused on a dot on the wall and tried to turn my head back and forth at a certain cadence. The first time, I went out to my car afterwards and slept for 30 minutes before I felt well enough to drive back to my office. My PT also does some gentle work on my neck to help deal with the whiplash issues. We've done a lot of drills to re-educate my eyes and brain, and I'm finally seeing some results.

For the physical exertion, we figured out at what heart rate I became symptomatic (increase in headache, dizziness, and/or nausea), and I start out keeping my heart rate no higher than 70% of that number. For a long time, all I could do was walk, and if there was the slightest hill, I'd have to rest along the way to bring my HR back down. I started this with my ortho PT before I was transferred to the Neuro PT, and in 7+ months, I've been able to increase my effort very slowly (started at 90 beats/minute, just got the ok to go to 130, where I can finally work up a sweat and feel as if I'm working out - yay!!) I'm a triathlete (was a triathlete? Still not ready to give up but we'll see) and used to working through discomfort, but my mantra has been "You can't work your way out of a head injury."