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Low back pain ICD-10 code

The ICD-10-CM code for low back pain is M54.50 low back pain, unspecified. It is billable and valid for submission on a claim. There are 14 related codes, and which one you use depends on what the documentation supports.

Also written as lbp, lumbago, back pain.

The mistake coders make here

M54.5 alone is no longer valid — it was subdivided. M54.50 unspecified, M54.51 vertebrogenic, M54.59 other. Claims still submitted with plain M54.5 reject.

All ICD-10-CM codes for low back pain

9 of 14 are billable. Green means you can submit it as-is.

CodeUse it when
M54.50Low back pain, unspecified
M54.51Vertebrogenic low back pain
M54.59Other low back pain
M54.5Low back painnot billable on its own
M51.360Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only
M51.369Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region without mention of lumbar back pain or lower extremity pain
M51.370Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain only
M51.379Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region without mention of lumbar back pain or lower extremity pain
M51.362Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain and lower extremity pain
M51.372Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain and lower extremity pain
M79.66Pain in lower legnot billable on its own
R10.APain localized to flanknot billable on its own
R10.1Pain localized to upper abdomennot billable on its own
R10.3Pain localized to other parts of lower abdomennot billable on its own
ICD-10-CMFY2026-Apr· effective April 1, 2026

Codes and descriptions are loaded directly from the CMS/NCHS ICD-10-CM release. The guidance on this page is ours — see our editorial policy. Reference information for professional coders; not medical or billing advice.