M54.5 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of low back pain. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2022 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
a: Assign code 724.2, Lumbago, for the lower back pain as the principal diagnosis. Assign codes 729.5, Pain in limb, for the pain in both lower extremities, 338.4, Chronic pain syndrome, and 338.19, Other acute pain, for the acute exacerbation as additional diagnoses.
a great tool for coding is flashcode.com. it is very helpful. I came up with 661.40. Check it out in the back of the ICD-9 book. Cervical spasm is listed there. I believe Melinda is speaking of the back (cervical region) due to her selection of ICD-9 codes.
Chronic back pain is also known as chronic pain associated w psychosocial dysfunction, chronic pain associated with psychosocial dysfunction, and psychosocial dysfunction due to chronic pain (finding). This applies to chronic pain associated withs ignificant psychosocial dysfunction.
Chronic back pain is any pain in the back that lasts longer than 3 months. The cause of chronic back pain can be disease, injury, stresses to the back, the structure of the bones of the back, or nerve and spinal cord injury.
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.
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.
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.
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..