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Anesthesia Coding Alert

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Chronic Pain Diagnosis Codes

Published on Thu Aug 01, 2002

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: What is a good diagnosis code for "chronic pain syndrome"? Is there a specific code that applies, or should I code to the body part having pain? Michigan Subscriber Answer: Several different codes apply to a diagnosis of "chronic pain syndrome," depending on the patient's condition. For example, use 729.1 (Myalgia and myositis, unspecified) for conditions such as fibro-myalgia, or 719.4X (various codes for Pain in joint) to designate joint pain. If the patient is seen because of pain in a particular site, code according to that site. You'll typically code according to site pain, but the physician may also use the group of codes 337.2X for reflex sympathetic dystrophy upon further evaluation of the patient.
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