These are the questions that come through this desk, in the voice they arrive in. The answers are short on purpose. Each one links to the chapter that takes its time. Nothing here is medical advice; it is a guide to getting examined by a person who can examine you.
My back did not hurt until two days after the crash. Is that normal?
Very. Delayed onset is the standard pattern for crash-related back pain. Adrenaline and attention mask the first hours, and the inflammation in strained muscle and ligament builds over one to three days. It is a reason to get examined now, not a reason to doubt yourself. The crash chapter walks through it hour by hour.
Do I need a referral to be seen at Missouri Injury Clinic?
No. Call the nearest room and schedule directly. South city and south county call Tesson Ferry at (314) 530-5480. North county calls Hazelwood at (314) 627-1411. The St. Charles side calls O'Fallon at (636) 280-0990.
What actually happens at the first visit?
A history of what happened, a hands-on movement and symptom exam, findings, and a written treatment plan before you leave. It is a real appointment, not a drive-through. Bring a timeline, a symptom list, any paperwork you already have, and your ID and coverage cards.
Is this guide independent?
No, and it says so on every page. It is advertising material published for Missouri Injury Clinic, Joseph L. Hollingsworth, DC. The medical background is general and true, and the clinic facts are only the ones the clinic publishes. The practical advice stands on its own either way.
Can the clinic handle a concussion along with my back?
Yes. TBI and concussion rehab is one of its three published lanes, with tools it names publicly: vagus nerve stimulation at the tragus, neurofeedback, Alpha Stim, sensory motor integration, exercise with oxygen, oculomotor rehabilitation, and computerized cognitive rehabilitation. Say on the phone that your head was involved.
When is this an emergency room problem instead?
Chest pain, a sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, a loss of bowel or bladder control, or a head injury with vomiting or worsening confusion is an emergency room trip right now, not a call to a clinic. Add to that list numbness between the legs, new bladder or bowel changes, leg weakness, or a back injury that leaves you unable to stand. Those go to an emergency department tonight, not to a clinic this week.
Why does everybody close from 12 to 2?
All three rooms close from noon to 2 every day for meetings, as the clinic publishes. It means a morning call gets the fastest handling and a 12:15 call rings into a closed room. Plan the drive around it.
Which room should a Soulard or Carondelet reader call?
Tesson Ferry, (314) 530-5480. It is the south room at 11144 Tesson Ferry Road, Suite 200, Saint Louis, MO 63123. The south side reader's guide covers the drive.
My back gave out at work, not in a crash. Is this the right clinic?
The clinic publishes three lanes: auto injuries, TBI and concussion rehab, and sports injuries. A work back is not one of them by name, so call first, say it was work rather than a crash, describe the job and the injury, and let the front desk tell you yes or no before you drive. The work chapter covers what to tell them about the job.
Do I have to decide anything about a claim before I get examined?
No. You do not need to have decided anything about a claim before you get examined. The exam happens because you are hurt. If a claim is ever part of your story, the dated record from the first exam is what everyone will ask for, and if you already have an attorney, bring their contact so records can be sent where they need to go. Nothing more complicated than that is offered or implied.
Does this guide give medical or legal advice?
No. Everything here is educational, not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not legal advice. Joseph L. Hollingsworth, DC, is a chiropractor, not a lawyer, and this desk is neither a clinic nor a law office. It is a guide to getting examined by someone who can examine you.
It has been three weeks. Is it too late to be examined?
No. A later exam is still a real exam, and being honest about the timeline is part of the record. What you should not do is let a few more weeks of waiting become a few more months.
The questions this desk will not answer
What your injury is. Whether you need imaging. What a visit costs and what the clinic accepts. Anything about insurance coverage or a dispute. Those belong to the clinician in the room and to the front desk on the phone, and this guide will not pretend otherwise. Ask the clinic directly and take the answer from them.
Featured clinic · Missouri Injury Clinic
Still have a question? Ask it on the phone, in the morning.
The front desk at the room you can drive to can answer the scheduling and billing questions this desk cannot. Say crash if it was a crash.
Advertising. This guide is compensated for featuring Missouri Injury Clinic. Joseph L. Hollingsworth, DC, is a chiropractor, not a lawyer. Hours are worth confirming on the call.