---
title: "ICD-10-CM M54.50: Low back pain, unspecified | BillingBrief"
description: "M54.50 is low back pain, unspecified. The M54.5 category was expanded in 2021, so M54.5 by itself is no longer billable."
canonical: "https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.50/"
language: "en"
---

# M54.50 Low back pain, unspecified

ICD-10-CM · [CMS code reference](#source)

M54.50 is low back pain, unspecified. The M54.5 category was expanded in 2021, so M54.5 by itself is no longer billable.

## Coding notes

From the ICD-10-CM FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) tabular list. Notes on a parent code or category apply here too.

### Also covers

-   Loin pain
-   Lumbago NOS

### Excludes1

Not coded together with this code. The exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

-   intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only ([M51.360](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m51.360/))
-   intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain only ([M51.370](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m51.370/))
-   low back strain (S39.012)
-   lumbago due to intervertebral disc displacement (M51.2-)
-   lumbago with sciatica (M54.4-)
-   psychogenic dorsalgia (F45.41)
-   current injury - see injury of spine by body region
-   discitis NOS (M46.4-)

## Related codes

-   [`M54.32` Sciatica, left side ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.32/)
-   [`M54.40` Lumbago with sciatica, unspecified side ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.40/)
-   [`M54.41` Lumbago with sciatica, right side ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.41/)
-   [`M54.42` Lumbago with sciatica, left side ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.42/)
-   [`M54.51` Vertebrogenic low back pain ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.51/)
-   [`M54.59` Other low back pain ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.59/)
-   [`M54.6` Pain in thoracic spine ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.6/)
-   [`M54.81` Occipital neuralgia ICD-10-CM](https://billingbrief.com/icd10/m54.81/)

## Common questions

### Is M54.50 a billable code?

Yes. M54.50 is a billable ICD-10-CM code in the ICD-10-CM FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) code set.

## From the source

Official description from [CMS](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/icd-10-codes).
ICD-10-CM FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026).

Code set

ICD-10-CM

Category

M54 Dorsalgia

Chapter

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue

Billable

Yes

Educational reference only. Not medical, legal, or billing advice. Always check the current official code set and payer policy before you bill. [About BillingBrief and our sources](https://billingbrief.com/about/).