Symptoms of a Cervical Herniated Disc
They include:
Symptoms include:
Yes, you can heal a herniated disc without surgery. However, what is defined as natural does not entail just carrying on with one’s life as if the herniated disc is not there. Unfortunately, this doesn’t actually treat the disc, it simply masks the pain.
Other cervical disc displacement, high cervical region M50. 21 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 M50. 21 became effective on October 1, 2021.
12 - Radiculopathy, cervical region.
ICD-10 Code for Other spondylosis with radiculopathy, cervical region- M47. 22- Codify by AAPC.
ICD-10 Code for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region- M51. 16- Codify by AAPC.
Example: M54. 12 is cervical radiculopathy. Your exam findings should include the following: Subjective: Neck pain, radiating pain into upper extremity, numbness, tingling.
ICD-10 allows coding of radiculopathy with increased specificity. The radiculopathy ICD-10 codes are found in the M54. 1- subcategory, part of the block M50-M54, Other Dorsopathies. As radiculopathy is a general term for spinal nerve root problems, the M54.
ICD-10 code M47. 812 for Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, cervical region is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Dorsopathies .
The most common causes of cervical radiculopathy are when a nerve root becomes inflamed or damaged due to a nearby bone spur or cervical herniated disc, such as from spinal degeneration over time or an injury. Many other less common causes of cervical radiculopathy are possible, such as infection or tumor.
M47. 812 - Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, cervical region | ICD-10-CM.
"A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal."
Lumbar radiculopathy is an inflammation of a nerve root in the lower back, which causes symptoms of pain or irritation in the back and down the legs. This condition usually involves the sciatic nerve and therefore is also called sciatica.
Code M54. 2 is the diagnosis code used for Cervicalgia (Neck Pain).
Only use the fourth character “9” for unspecified disc disorders if the documentation does not indicate anything more than the presence of a disc problem. But beware, payors are expected to ask for clarification if unspecified or “NOS” codes are used.
Though it is not specifically mentioned, “thoracolumbar” likely only includes T12-L1, and “lumbosacral” probably only refers to the L5-S1 interspace. There is a strange rule for cervical disc disorders indicating that you should code to the most superior level of the disorder.
These spinal disc codes appear to be a bit complex, but with some study and evaluation, the logic used to create them becomes clear. The provider can use the codes to guide proper documentation and the coder then can select the right codes with confidence.
It is already included in the code. Likewise, don’t code sciatica (M54.3-) if you code for lumbar disc with radiculopathy. It would be redundant. On a side note, lumbar radiculopathy (M54.16) might be used if pain is not yet known to be due a disc, but it radiates from the lumbar spine.