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."

@Jeo,
I went for first physical therapy yesterday. It was very light physical exam of neck, stability, back, nothing aggressive.
Therapist thinks that I have tightness in my neck so It might be related to whiplash. I can see some light of hope. I was wondering if there are any other diagnostic measures for neck injury out there. I will contact my neuro about the same.

for the sake of you and your health going forward:

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM KAISER...

i speak from experience...

when they could not deal with my brain injury, they cancelled my insurance...they were wrong on just about everything while they treated me.

they are ignorant, arrogant, highly paid health care buffons.

i now use another plan and have had all the care i ask for...

Kaiser is a joke for PCS and any brain injury, they simply lack the capacity to care...you are a number, not a person.

Run. Far. Away.

brainstemmed,

I bet you developed a 'thick file.' This is when the patient's file is thick with records of many visits. This often is the start of being labeled somatoform, the kiss of death for getting good health care. I was a Kaiser member for decades and developed a thick file. Many doctors used it against me. A few looked deeper and took an interest in my health.

Once they reach a point where there is nothing they can do to treat your condition, the walls go up. If the patient does not follow through with recommended treatments or asks for treatments that they do not offer, such as chiro, etc. the walls start to go up.

Add to this the fact that there are very few effective treatments for mTBI and even non-Kaiser health plans tend to fall short. As a vertically integrated health plan, Kaiser just magnifies these issues. Add to this the uniqueness of your injury and you have found the perfect storm.

agreed...100%!!!

I am already stuck in this mess, can not do any thing till next year :(.
I have to make it work as my employer will give up on me if I dont see any improvements with in couple of weeks. My only hope now is physical therapy and chiro. Hope for the best.

Here is a helpful guide to TBI for employers that I provided to my boss when I returned to work: http://www.mayo.edu/pmts/mc1200-mc1299/mc1298.pdf

Thank you very much, this link is very helpful.

My doctor basically ignored me last visit and said I should try to push myself to be ready to resume work in 1 month. I am getting better, but she wouldn't know for not listening to my symptoms.

So mad. I got a second opinion and that doctor had no idea what the "push yourself" was supposed to help with. No idea how to proceed now.

so... if you can find a good doctor who will listen to you and think about your problems, cherish him or her :)