icd 10 code for lumbar spine disc bulge at l4-l5 and l5-s1

by Dr. Jessy Batz I 3 min read

Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region
The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51. 26 became effective on October 1, 2021.

What is the T12-L1 code?

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.

Is sciatica a code for lumbar radiculopathy?

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.