Pain in thoracic spine
Upper back pain can feel like one or more of the following:
Related Concepts SNOMET-CT
M54. 6 - Pain in thoracic spine | ICD-10-CM.
6: Pain in thoracic spine.
5 – Low Back Pain. ICD-Code M54. 5 is a billable ICD-10 code used for healthcare diagnosis reimbursement of chronic low back pain.
ICD-9 uses 724.5 for backache, unspecified, while ICD-10 uses the following more specific codes: M54. 9, dorsalgia, unspecified; M54. 89, other dorsalgia; M54. 6, pain in thoracic spine; M54.
For starters, dorsalgia is severe back pain, which could be coming from different parts of the spine. Depending on the specific section of the spine where the pain is coming from, there are six types of dorsalgia.
ICD-10 code G89. 29 for Other chronic pain is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Diseases of the nervous system .
Category G89 includes codes for acute pain, chronic pain, and neoplasm-related pain, as well as codes for two pain syndromes. In order for you to assign these codes, the physician must document that the pain is acute, chronic, or neoplasm-related.
G89. 29 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM G89. 29 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Dorsalgia generally refers to back or spine pain (1). However, while dorsalgia includes spinal-related pain like lower back pain, mid back pain, and sciatica pain, it does not include pain from conditions like scoliosis or lordosis. Dorsalgia includes back pain that begins in the back muscles, nerves, and joints (2).
ICD-9 Code Transition: 723.1 Code M54. 2 is the diagnosis code used for Cervicalgia (Neck Pain). It is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives.
Sciatica – Pain which radiates down to one or both the legs from the lower back caused due to compression of the sciatic nerve by a herniated disk or a bone spur. Lumbago- The medical term for low back pain.
Back pain, medically called Dorsalgia is a very common physical discomfort affecting 8 out of 10 people both young and the old. The pain can be in the cervical, cervicothoracic, thoracic, thoracolumbar, Lumbar or lumbosacral regions. It can be felt as a dull, persistent ache or a sudden sharp pain.
Lumbar region – The lower back region of the spine which is curved slightly inwards and made of 5 vertebrae (L1-L5). Lumbosacral region – The region connecting the last lumbar vertebrae to the sacrum which is made of 5 bones fused together.
Chronic back pain – Back pain is said to be chronic if it is a constant nagging pain usually lasting for more than 3-6 months duration, which begins to affect the daily routine of the person.
Thoracic region – The longest region of the spine which extends from the base of the neck to the abdomen. It comprises of 12 vertebrae (T1 to T12).
Back pain being a symptom of an underlying disease in most cases is coded only in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis of an underlying condition like intervertebral disc disorders, traumatic disc fracture, muscle strain etc..
For lower back pain or lumbago it always leads to 724.2 for the lumbar spine pain, since the lower part of the vertebral column is mainly of lumbar spines.
ICD-9CM 724.5 code for back pain is a billable medical code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis on a reimbursement claim.
Low back pain, backache, lumbago or lumbar pain is a common disorder involving the muscles and bones of the back. Low back pain is often abbreviated as LBP.
It might incorporate hot or cool packs, exercise, pharmaceuticals, infusions, reciprocal medicines, and in some cases surgery.
However, 724.5 should only be used for claims with a date of service on or before September 30, 2015. For claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015, use an equivalent ICD-10CM code.
Acute or chronic pain in the lumbar or sacral regions, which may be associated with musculo-ligamentous sprains and strains; intervertebral disk displacement; and other conditions.
M54.5 should not be used for reimbursement purposes as there are multiple codes below it that contain a greater level of detail.
Coding alert 1: “From an ICD-10-CM perspective, lower back pain and strain are mutually exclusive diagnoses, as there is an Excludes1 note under M54.5 directing coders to S39.012- for low back strain,” cautions Moore.
“For instance, pain in the thoracic region, the region of the spine that runs from the neck to just above the abdomen and coded to M54.6, is coded differently from pain in the lumbar region, or the lower back, which is coded to M54.5, ” Moore cautions.
Scenario 3: Your provider documents that a patient has chronic lower back pain due to surgery or trauma.
Coding alert 2: Remember, ICD-10 does not place time parameters on chronic pain. Instead, the definition of “chronic” is up to provider documentation, and your coding should be based on that.