How long does post concussion head pain and cognitive fatigue last?

Hi, Jennifer, what a wonderful, encouraging reply. It seems I need to be reminded over and over again about the importance of NAPS and patience. I feel encouraged when I'm reminded of these things.
Best, Cate

I had the same things too, couldn’t even remember where I was going running errands, would get two or three blocks from home and forget. Used navigation and every tool possible to prevent me from thinking more than necessary to prevent excessive cognitive fatigue. Take short naps, even half hour when the brain decides it’s done processing, huge help. The headaches turned out to be eye convergence insufficiency-basically got hit so hard that it knocked my eyes out of alignment-neuropathologist prescribed specific PT exercises forever, but it helps the headaches turned pain enormously. Been in speech pathology physical therapy for about ten months and it helps with the jumbled thoughts, ford finding, building a new neuropathways and the aphasia. Don’t push yourself too hard or get stressed can cause additional issues but I would definitely do research and talk to your doctor about all kinds of Physical Therapy it helps a lot.
Hope you feel better soon, I found that the 24 hour fitness has a recovery room with massage chairs, the pool and jacuzzi seriously have been a life saver with the physical pain. Yes, I am working too and like you, couldn’t believe it, couldn’t think back then and my job required extensive cognitive fatiguing everything, but after a very long 13 months of hard work and persistence I am just now starting to feel better and more like my happy self again. I know my limitations and won’t let anyone push my body so far it hurts me though. I went from doing 200% to 100% and that’s okay!!

@kayabbott I have a history of concussions (student athlete) and my most recent concussion was this past January after a fall, I am also currently writing my PhD dissertation (in neuroscience of all things) and it has been very difficult with the lasting symptoms from the injury that still have not resolved. Your reply with your experience gives me hope that I can complete writing my dissertation while still recovering. It sounds like we both made finishing a PhD even more of an extreme sport than it already is!

I’m a writer also. Much to my dismay I’ve had to stop most resource writing for publication as I’m finding much trouble meeting deadlines. I’m proud of you working on PHds. Perhaps persistence will pay off for you! Good luck and best wishes.

@kaylad Dissertations are tough enough without TBIs. I broke my writing down as much as possible by using and populating outlines, and lots of naps, managing stress, exercise, and other escapes. If noise impacts you, noise cancelling earbuds are great. Once you are done, you will have the PhD plus considerable knowledge and experience in rewiring brains. I beat myself up throughout the writing and defence; walking across the stage for my silver diploma was an epithany. It felt like floating because I didn't realize how much I was beating myself up for struggling. PhDs are accomplishments, especially during recoveries. Please give yourself a hug for me.

@kaylad - I agree - writing a dissertation is a huge accomplishment and a big task to complete. I also agree with @kayabbott about proactively taking naps, managing stress, exercise, and other escapes. When I was writing my master's thesis (not as big as a dissertation, of course, but a similar process), I did a lot of these to just incent myself and try to keep going. My biggest "reward" at that time was spending an hour a day just reading a novel for fun.

Is fatigue your biggest challenge as far as symptoms right now, kaylad, or something else?