Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: What is the best diagnosis code for chronic pain syndrome?

Indiana Subscriber

Answer: "Chronic pain syndrome" is a vague diagnosis, which means it sometimes becomes a catchall term for several pain conditions. Common possibilities include reflex sympathetic dystrophy/regional pain syndrome (337.2x), fibromyalgia/muscular pain (729.1, Myalgia and myositis, unspecified) or peripheral neuropathy (337.0, Idiopathic peripheral autonomic neuropathy) caused by diabetes (250.6x, Diabetes with neurological manifestations) or amyloidosis (277.3).
 
Check with your physician to clarify what type of pain the patient has before you assign a diagnosis. The patient might initially report pain "all over" but should be able to pinpoint his worst pain sites, such as the lower back (724.2, Lumbago) or the hip (719.45, Pain in joint; pelvic region and thigh).
 
Also verify any of the patient's pain-related symptoms before selecting a final diagnosis. Potential symptoms include back muscle spasms (724.8, Other symptoms referable to back) or derangement of joint (718.95, Unspecified derangement of joint; pelvic region and thigh).