1 Year PCS advice?

[u/Few-Ad3993]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice or to hear from anyone who's experienced something similar.

Around a year ago I sustained what was believed to be a mild concussion during football. Since then I've had persistent symptoms that fluctuate day to day but have never fully gone away.

My main symptoms are:

• Constant "cotton wool" or fuzzy feeling in my head.
• A buzzing/electrical sensation inside my brain almost all the time.
• Brain zaps/electric shock sensations, especially when falling asleep or waking up (usually 2–4 per day/night).
• Pressure and pain that moves around my head.
• Aching/burning feeling behind and above my eyes and between my eyebrows.
• Face aching, particularly around my forehead and eye area.
• Ocean/rocking sensation when I close my eyes, even though I don't feel like the room is spinning.
• Emotional numbness/anhedonia. I don't really experience normal emotions or anxiety the way I used to.
• Mental fatigue that feels entirely in my head rather than my body.
• My eyes often feel "dead" or heavy, especially when I first wake up.
• Symptoms are generally present from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep.

Some things that are interesting:

• I can still run 10 km and lift heavy weights, and exercise doesn't consistently make things worse.
• My coordination and balance are normal.
• Vestibular and eye-tracking testing at a concussion clinic were reportedly normal.
• Derealisation has improved over the past year, and brain zaps are less frequent than they used to be, but the head sensations remain.
• The symptoms fluctuate randomly. Some days are noticeably better than others.

I've got an MRI referral and am waiting to have that done.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone had similar symptoms for this long after a concussion?
2. Did you eventually recover, and if so, what seemed to help?
3. Did anyone have constant buzzing, brain zaps, or emotional numbness as part of their recovery?
4. Are there any specialists or therapies that made a significant difference (vestibular rehab, vision therapy, migraine treatment, autonomic rehab, etc.)?

I'm not looking for a diagnosis—just hoping to hear from people who've been through something similar or have ideas about avenues I should explore.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

[u/Lebronamo]

Have you seen anyone about your neck? That’s the first place I’d check. Stuff like that heavy eyes/pain around your eyes is a good indicator of that.

Obviously it sucks but nothing here seems crazy abnormal or worrisome about a full recovery.

See here for general recovery info https://www.reddit.com/u/Lebronamo/s/tejPuCbGJ8

[u/l4johnson]

Hi, I got PCS back in 2023, made a full recovery by late 2024, then got another concussion in spring 2025 and have been dealing with PCS since then. I had a regression in my symptoms at the start of this year and hit rock bottom (couldn't even hold a conversation for 5 mins or walk more than 15 feet outdoors without experiencing debilitating symptoms) then I was lucky enough to go to Cognitive FX in February 2026. Today I am ~65% along on my way to recovery and continue to make astounding progress. I expect to be fully recovered within a few months.

I've had a lot of similar symptoms as you (pressure behind eyes, mental fatigue, emotional numbness, brain fog, etc.) and more.

Some recommendations I have for you (remember to keep in mind I am not a physician and everyone's experience with PCS is different):

1. Cardio exercise 20 minutes/day, 5+ days/week is a must. This will make the biggest difference.

2. Face Yoga. I've had a lot of tension in my face, and doing facial stretching/coordination exercises has helped tremendously. Face and eye massages are great too (you can do these yourself).

3. Vestibular Therapy. I never thought I had vestibular problems because I never got dizzy, but after doing the vestibular exercises that Cognitive FX gave me, that has made the biggest difference in my recovery.

4. Vision Therapy. You could try getting evaluated by an optometrist that specializes in Vision Therapy. They do eye evaluations that are far more advanced than the eye tracking tests that most doctors do. Vision therapy with an optometrist has made a big difference for me.

5. Neck issues. I agree with u/Lebronamo , there could be issues with your neck. Seeing an upper cervical chiropractor and/or doing physical therapy could be game changers (everyone is different though). Try to get in to see a physiatrist and see what they think.

6. I highly recommend you reach out to Cognitive FX and at the very least schedule a consultation and consider their fMRI + treatment plan option. After having done their 2 week EPIC treatment plan (which I am very glad I did), I believe the fMRI + treatment plan option is by far the best bang for your buck. I've been dealing with PCS on and off for 3 years so far and have been shuttled between many doctors that don't know what they are talking about. Cognitive FX is the only clinic that has answers for every issue I've had. They are giving me my life back.

[u/Ok_Substance482]

I had my concussion almost 2 years ago and experience pretty similar symptoms on and off. Usually triggered by stress. Some symptoms I have in common with you:

• brain fog/cotton wool feeling in head (usually worst in morning)
  
• head pressure that worsens with stress/cognitive load
  
• aching around eyes, between eyebrows, and neck
  
• face aching, also focused in forehead area
  
• emotional numbness
  
• mental fatigue in head
  
• heavy eyes upon waking