ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for back pain
Confirmed by the official ICD-10-CM index entry “pain (s) › back (postural)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding back pain
The ICD-10-CM code for back pain is M54.9 (Dorsalgia, unspecified). The official index lists 32 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on M54.9.
Within M54, choose M54.9 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back (M54.0), radiculopathy (M54.1), Cervicalgia (M54.2), sciatica (M54.3), Lumbago with sciatica (M54.4), low back pain (M54.5), pain in thoracic spine (M54.6) and other dorsalgia (M54.8).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 551 (Medical Back Problems with MCC, relative weight 1.6358) and DRG 552 (Medical Back Problems without MCC, relative weight 0.9584), in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
Related Back pain codes
- M54.00 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, site unspecified
- M54.01 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M54.02 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervical region
- M54.03 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervicothoracic region
- M54.04 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracic region
- M54.05 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracolumbar region
- M54.06 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, lumbar region
- M54.07 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, lumbosacral region
- M54.08 Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M54.09 Panniculitis affecting regions, neck and back, multiple sites in spine
- M54.10 Radiculopathy, site unspecified
- M54.11 Radiculopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M54.12 Radiculopathy, cervical region
- M54.13 Radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region
- M54.14 Radiculopathy, thoracic region
- M54.15 Radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M54.16 Radiculopathy, lumbar region
- M54.17 Radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
- M54.18 Radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M54.2 Cervicalgia
- M54.30 Sciatica, unspecified side
- M54.31 Sciatica, right side
- M54.32 Sciatica, left side
- M54.40 Lumbago with sciatica, unspecified side
- M54.41 Lumbago with sciatica, right side
- M54.42 Lumbago with sciatica, left side
- M54.50 Low back pain, unspecified
- M54.51 Vertebrogenic low back pain
- M54.59 Other low back pain
- M54.6 Pain in thoracic spine
- M54.81 Occipital neuralgia
- M54.89 Other dorsalgia
Common questions about back pain ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for back pain?
- M54.9 — Dorsalgia, unspecified. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: M54.00, M54.01, M54.02, M54.03 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, site unspecified?
- M54.00 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, site unspecified.
What is the ICD-10 code for panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, occipito-atlanto-axial region?
- M54.01 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, occipito-atlanto-axial region.
What is the ICD-10 code for panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervical region?
- M54.02 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervical region.
What is the ICD-10 code for panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervicothoracic region?
- M54.03 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervicothoracic region.
What is the ICD-10 code for panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracic region?
- M54.04 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracic region.
What is the ICD-10 code for panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracolumbar region?
- M54.05 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracolumbar region.
Is M54.9 billable?
- Yes. M54.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can M54.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict M54.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is M54.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. M54.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.