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M79.1
ICD-10-CM
Muscle Pain

Find information on muscle pain diagnosis, including myalgia, fibromyalgia, and muscle spasm. Learn about relevant clinical documentation, ICD-10 codes (M79.1), medical coding, and healthcare best practices for diagnosing and treating muscle pain. Explore differential diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options for various muscle pain conditions. This resource provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals, medical coders, and patients seeking information on muscle pain.

Also known as

Myalgia
Muscular Pain

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Discomfort or pain in muscles, ranging from mild to severe.
  • Clinical Signs : Tenderness, stiffness, soreness, weakness, or limited range of motion.
  • Common Settings : Overuse, injury, infections, certain medications, or medical conditions.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC M79.1 Coding
M79.1

Myalgia

Muscle pain.

M62.5

Pain in limb

Pain localized to limbs, may include muscle pain.

R52.9

Pain, unspecified

Generalized pain, can include muscle pain if not specified further.

M79.0

Fibromyalgia

Widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the muscle pain traumatic in nature?

  • Yes

    Is a specific muscle documented?

  • No

    Is there inflammation?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Muscle pain
Fibromyalgia
Myalgia

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Muscle pain location (e.g., back, leg)
  • Muscle pain character (e.g., sharp, dull)
  • Onset and duration of muscle pain
  • Aggravating and relieving factors
  • Associated symptoms (if any)

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Pain Code

    Using unspecified codes like M79.1 (Myalgia) without sufficient documentation to support a more specific diagnosis leads to lower reimbursement and audit scrutiny. Medical coding and CDI should ensure appropriate specificity.

  • Overlapping Symptoms

    Muscle pain may overlap with other conditions like fibromyalgia or arthritis. Incorrectly coding muscle pain as the primary diagnosis instead of the underlying disease impacts healthcare compliance and claim accuracy.

  • Lacking Laterality

    Failing to document laterality (right, left, or bilateral) for muscle pain, especially when coding regional pain syndromes, can cause medical coding errors and denials. CDI specialists should query physicians for clarification.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Document precise location, character, duration of pain for accurate ICD-10 coding.
  • Rule out underlying causes, specify pain type (e.g., myalgia, spasm) for optimal CDI.
  • Query physician for clarity if documentation lacks detail to ensure compliant billing.
  • Use standardized terminology (SNOMED CT) for muscle pain diagnoses to improve interoperability.
  • Regularly audit muscle pain documentation for coding accuracy and compliance with regulations.

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Verify patient complaint includes localized or diffuse muscle pain
  • Review history for trauma, exertion, medication use
  • Check physical exam for tenderness, swelling, weakness
  • Consider labs for CK, ESR if indicated by history/exam
  • Exclude other diagnoses (e.g., fibromyalgia, infection)

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Muscle pain diagnosis reimbursement impacted by accurate ICD-10 coding (M79.1) for optimal payment.
  • Coding quality metrics: Muscle pain specificity impacts reporting accuracy, HCC risk adjustment, and value-based care.
  • Hospital reporting: Muscle pain diagnosis data affects resource allocation, pain management program efficacy tracking.
  • Denial management: Precise muscle pain coding (M79.1 vs. other pain codes) reduces claim denials, improves revenue cycle.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes for . Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code specific muscle location
  • Document pain duration/onset
  • Rule out other diagnoses
  • Consider laterality coding
  • Check ICD-10 M79.1 for myalgia

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with myalgia, characterized by muscle pain, soreness, or aching.  The patient reports [location of pain - e.g., localized to the lower back, diffuse muscle aches, bilateral leg pain].  Onset of pain was [onset - e.g., gradual, sudden] and occurred [duration - e.g., two weeks ago, yesterday] following [possible precipitating event - e.g., strenuous exercise, a fall, no known cause].  The pain is described as [quality of pain - e.g., dull, sharp, throbbing, cramping] and is [severity - e.g., mild, moderate, severe] in intensity, impacting [impact on activities of daily living - e.g., sleep, mobility, work].  Associated symptoms include [associated symptoms - e.g., stiffness, weakness, fatigue, localized swelling, redness, tenderness to palpation].  Review of systems is otherwise unremarkable.  Physical examination reveals [physical exam findings - e.g., tenderness to palpation in the affected area, limited range of motion, no palpable warmth or erythema, normal muscle strength].  Differential diagnosis includes musculoskeletal strain, fibromyalgia, myositis, medication-induced myalgia, and viral infection.  Initial assessment suggests [likely diagnosis - e.g., muscle strain].  Plan includes [treatment plan - e.g., conservative management with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and gentle stretching exercises.  Patient education provided on proper body mechanics and activity modification].  Follow-up scheduled in [duration - e.g., one week, two weeks] to reassess symptoms and adjust treatment plan as needed.  ICD-10 code: [appropriate ICD-10 code - e.g., M79.1 for Myalgia].