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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Pain And Nerve Ablations

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Posted on Tue, 2 Jun 2015
Question: My question to the doctor is can a urine test using mass spectrometry, show the volume of medication.....in other words if the patient took more than 1 pain pill.
I am a chronic pain patient. Have been dealing with spinal issues since 2011. I have done all kinds if procedures ranging from accupuncture, sterodial injections, nerve ablations and had a spinal cord stimulator which was takent out this past February due to not working anymore. My doctor has me on 10 mg. Vicodan (Norco) 4 X day. Yesterday, due to pain I took 2 instead of just the one and again this morning. My blood pressure this morning, prior to taking my pain meds was 166/106. An hour and half later it was 144/91. I want to know if this particular type of urine test that I mentioned above will show that I took two pills. I have an appointment with my doctor on May 13th.
Thank you in advance,
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Urine test is qualitative and quantitative.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for using HCM.

Urine tests about drugs concentration and use are quantitative ( show the quantity used) and qualitative (show the kind of drug used).

There are time limits (for Norco about 48 hours) that urine drugs test show correct results.

So, if you take the drug test within 48 hours of Norco use, it should show you used approximated dosage.

Hypertension could be related to pain.

Controlling pain should normalize blood pressure.

Hope this helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (50 minutes later)
Thank you for your answer. I am have an appointment with my primary care doctor today at 4:00. He does not prescribe my pain medication. I have a pain medicine specialist for that. I know he will be concerned about the blood pressures. My question to you is are you familiar with mass spectrometry testing.
I had posed a question to a doctor on this site about a week ago and he was from another country. Are you from the U.S.? If not, then do they use mass spectrometry testing in the country you are from?
Thank you,
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Mass spectrometry is used mainly by forensic experts.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX

I'm not familiar with mass spectrometry practically, because I'm a Neurosurgeon, but I know this procedure in theory. ( I'm not from U.S).

I work in a trauma hospital and we have often forensic issues about substance abuses by our patients, and in certain cases mass spectrometry is used by forensics.

It is a chemical technique that is developing more and more in medicine practice. ( laboratory practice )

It is an analytical technique used for determining the elemental composition of samples, quantifying the mass of particles and molecules and elucidating the chemical structure of molecules.

Hope this helps. If you will be honest to you Doctor, I know you will work it out.
Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 4492 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Pain And Nerve Ablations

Brief Answer: Urine test is qualitative and quantitative. Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for using HCM. Urine tests about drugs concentration and use are quantitative ( show the quantity used) and qualitative (show the kind of drug used). There are time limits (for Norco about 48 hours) that urine drugs test show correct results. So, if you take the drug test within 48 hours of Norco use, it should show you used approximated dosage. Hypertension could be related to pain. Controlling pain should normalize blood pressure. Hope this helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.