Leg Pain ICD-10-CM codes

Leg pain is coded from M79.6-: M79.604 pain in right leg, M79.605 pain in left leg, and M79.606 pain in leg, unspecified. When the provider names the segment, use the more specific code: M79.651 or M79.652 for the thigh and M79.661 or M79.662 for the lower leg (shin or calf). Arm pain uses the same category, M79.601 right arm and M79.602 left arm, and M79.609 is pain in an unspecified limb.

Pain in a joint is coded to M25.5- instead, such as M25.561 for the right knee. Leg pain from a pinched nerve is sciatica, M54.31 or M54.32, or M54.41 or M54.42 when it occurs with low back pain; M79.6- is not added for the same pain. Calf muscle spasm or cramp is M62.831, and leg pain with walking from arterial disease is intermittent claudication, I73.9 when no more specific atherosclerosis code applies.

M79.6- is a symptom category. Replace it with the diagnosis once one is established, and see the sciatica and joint pain guides for the related code families.