Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: The surgeon treated a patient suffering from central pain syndrome (CPS). For ICD-10 coding purposes, is this an alternate term for fibromyalgia?

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Answer: People with fibromyalgia sometimes also suffer from CPS, but they’re not the same thing for ICD-10 coding purposes. Report G89.0 (Central pain syndrome) to represent this condition.

According to Cleveland Clinic, “central pain syndrome is a chronic neurological condition that affects how you feel pain. It can happen because of damage to your brain or spinal cord. It also can happen when chronic pain alters how your nervous system handles pain signals. This condition often has severe effects and is often difficult to treat.”

As earlier stated, CPS and fibromyalgia are often connected. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the joints and muscles. Patients that suffer from fibromyalgia are much more at risk to develop central pain syndrome because chronic pain alters how their nervous system works, reports Cleveland Clinic.