What is the ICD-10 code for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease?

The ICD-10 code for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease varies based on pain location: M51.360 for axial back pain, M51.361 for lower extremity pain, and M51.362 for both.

How do you code lumbar DDD with leg pain?

For lumbar degenerative disc disease with leg pain, use ICD-10 code M51.361 if the pain is non-radicular.

ICD-10 Coding for Lumbosacral Degenerative Disc Disease(M51.360, G89.29, M51.3)

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Comprehensive guide to ICD-10 coding for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, including code ranges, documentation requirements, and common pitfalls.

Also known as:

Lumbar DDDLumbosacral Disc Degeneration

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Lumbosacral Degenerative Disc Disease

M00-M99Primary Range

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
M51.360	Lumbar DDD with axial back pain only	Use when lumbar DDD is confirmed with axial back pain only.	MRI confirmation of disc degeneration Patient reports axial back pain
M51.361	Lumbar DDD with lower extremity pain only	Use when lumbar DDD is confirmed with lower extremity pain only.	Positive discography Lower extremity pain without radicular features
M51.362	Lumbar DDD with both back and leg pain	Use when lumbar DDD is confirmed with both back and leg pain.	MRI shows disc degeneration Patient reports both back and leg pain

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only

M51.360Billable

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Low back painM54.5

Lumbago with sciaticaM54.41

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Lumbosacral Degenerative Disc Disease.

Documenting 'low back pain' without specifying cause

Impact

Clinical: May lead to inappropriate treatment plans., Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards., Financial: Potential for claim denials or reduced reimbursement.

Mitigation

Always link pain to DDD if confirmed, Use specific ICD-10 codes

Using M54.5- for DDD-related pain

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding may lead to claim denials., Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate data reporting and analysis.

Mitigation

Add Excludes1 note: 'Low back pain due to DDD → Code M51.36- first'

Use of unspecified codes

Impact

High denial risk when using unspecified M51.36/M51.37 codes.

Mitigation

Ensure documentation specifies pain location and characteristics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with M51.360.

Primary Code

M51.360

Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only

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ICD-10 codes13

Coding risks3

FAQs2

ICD-10 Coding for Lumbosacral Degenerative Disc Disease(M51.360, G89.29, M51.3)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease?

How do you code lumbar DDD with leg pain?

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