The ICD-10-CM Index indicates that pain NOS is reported with code R52 (Pain, unspecified). However, keep in mind that this guidance was issued for ICD-9-CM, not ICD-10-CM. For example, if the clinical history for a hand x-ray simply states “Pain,” it is appropriate to code hand pain. In a 2004 letter to the American College of Radiology, the AHA Central Office ™ stated that it is acceptable to assign the code for pain of the site that is being imaged when the requisition does not indicate the location of the pain. This constitutes poor documentation, and the department or facility should ask the ordering physician to provide a more specific clinical history, such as pain in knee joint, flank pain, precordial pain, etc. Sometimes the radiology department or imaging center will receive a requisition that simply states “Pain” without specifying the location of the pain. Remember that you should always look up the patient’s diagnosis-as documented by the physician-in the ICD-10-CM Index and follow whatever instructions it provides. We’ll discuss all three types of pain codes in this article. Certain specific types of pain are classified to category G89 (Pain, not elsewhere classified) in the Nervous System chapter.

For example, abdominal pain is classified to category R10. Pain that does not point to a specific body system is classified in the Symptoms and Signs chapter.For example, low back pain is classified in the Musculoskeletal chapter (M54.5) and testicular pain is classified in the Genitourinary System chapter (N50.8). Pain that points to a disorder of a specific body system is classified in the body system chapters.You can find pain codes in three different places in the ICD-10-CM manual: In this article we’ll give you a run-down of how pain is classified in ICD-10, as well as the rules for sequencing the pain codes. Once ICD-10 is implemented on October 1 of next year, radiology coders will need to be ready to assign the appropriate codes for these studies. Many imaging studies are ordered because the patient is experiencing pain.

This article appeared in the January issue of the Radiology Coding & Compliance Expert.

Icd 10 code for abdominal pain