The herniated disc, or displaced disc, can compress a nerve exiting the spine (branch of the spinal cord). When disc herniation leads to compression of an exiting nerve, this condition is referred to as radiculopathy.
722.51 is the correct diagnosis code for thoracic degenerative disc disease. 722.52 is the accurate diagnosis code for DDD of the lumbar or lumbosacral intervertebral disc.
Commonly referred to as a pinched nerve, radiculopathy is injury or damage to nerve roots in the area where they leave the spine. This condition can affect anyone and can be the result disc degeneration, disc herniation or other trauma.
Lumbar radiculopathy (also known as “sciatica”) is term used to describe radiating leg pain, numbness, or weakness caused by inflammation or pinching of a spinal nerve in the lower back. Lumbar radiculopathy can result from a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or stenosis (narrowing) of the lumbar spine.
Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region M51. 36 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 M51. 36 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracic region M51. 34 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 M51. 34 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Radiculopathy can be defined as the whole complex of symptoms that can arise from nerve root pathology, including anesthesia, paresthesia, hypoesthesia, motor loss and pain. Radicular pain and nerve root pain can be defined as a single symptom (pain) that can arise from one or more spinal nerve roots.
When radiculopathy occurs in the lower back, it is known as lumbar radiculopathy, also referred to as sciatica because nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve are often involved. The lower back is the area most frequently affected by radiculopathy.
Radiating pain (aka radicular pain) typically stems from back pain with nerve irritation that causes pain down the leg, or neck pain with nerve pain into the arms and hands. Radiating pain follows specific nerves, while referred pain is more general and can occur in many places around an injured tissue.
Discs often degenerate with age causing vertebrae to sit closer together. This is part of the reason we shrink with age. Degenerative discs can lead to pain via multiple pathways. Spinal stenosis is another condition of the spine where the central canal diameter is reduced much like a pipe that becomes clogged.
However, while radiculopathy is caused by the pinching of root nerves of the spinal column, neuropathy is damage or malfunction of peripheral nerves and encompasses a much wider array of issues caused by nerve damage.
Degenerative disc disease may cause back and/or leg pain, as well as functional problems such as tingling or numbness in your legs or buttocks, or difficulty walking.