Find information on leg numbness diagnosis, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Explore related medical coding (ICD-10), clinical documentation tips, and differential diagnosis for paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, and spinal stenosis. Learn about nerve damage, leg weakness, tingling sensations, and other associated neurological symptoms. This resource supports healthcare professionals in accurate diagnosis and coding of lower extremity numbness for optimal patient care.
Also known as
Symptoms and signs involving skin and subcutaneous tissues
Includes numbness and other sensory disturbances of the skin.
Nerve root and plexus disorders
Nerve compressions can cause numbness in the legs.
Dorsalopathies
Back problems like spinal stenosis can cause leg numbness.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetic neuropathy is a common cause of leg numbness.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the numbness due to a traumatic injury?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Leg numbness |
| Sciatica |
| Peripheral neuropathy |
Patient presents with complaints of leg numbness (lower extremity paresthesia, hypoesthesia, or dysesthesia). Onset, duration, and character of numbness were documented, including descriptors such as tingling, pins and needles, burning, or "dead" feeling. Location of numbness was specified (e.g., bilateral legs, unilateral left leg, right thigh, anterior shin, specific dermatome). Associated symptoms such as leg pain (leg cramps, sciatica), weakness (lower extremity weakness, foot drop), gait disturbances, balance problems, or bowelbladder dysfunction were explored and documented. Patient history including relevant medical conditions such as diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), peripheral artery disease (PAD), multiple sclerosis (MS), vitamin B12 deficiency, lumbar spinal stenosis, herniated disc, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and prior surgeries was reviewed. Physical examination included assessment of sensory function (light touch, pinprick, vibration, proprioception), motor strength, deep tendon reflexes, and peripheral pulses. Differential diagnosis considerations include peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, spinal cord compression, and vascular insufficiency. Initial treatment plan may include further investigations such as nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography (EMG), MRI of the lumbar spine, or blood tests (e.g., vitamin B12, HbA1c). Patient education provided regarding potential causes of leg numbness, management strategies, and follow-up care. Referral to neurology, vascular surgery, or other specialists may be considered depending on clinical findings. ICD-10 codes for leg numbness may include R20.2 (anaesthesia of lower limb), G89.18 (other chronic pain syndromes), or specific codes related to the underlying etiology. Medical billing codes for evaluation and management (E/M) services will be determined based on complexity of the visit.