M54.51 Vertebrogenic low back pain
ICD-10-CM · CMS code reference
M54.51 is low back pain the provider documents as coming from the vertebrae, such as vertebral endplate pain. Low back pain with no further detail goes to M54.50, and other described low back pain to M54.59.
What to know
- Use a different code instead for low back strain (S39.012), lumbago due to disc displacement (M51.2-), lumbar or lumbosacral disc degeneration with discogenic back pain only (M51.360, M51.370), or low back pain with sciatica (M54.4-).
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
- Low back vertebral endplate pain
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)
- intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain only (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
M54.40Lumbago with sciatica, unspecified side ICD-10-CMM54.41Lumbago with sciatica, right side ICD-10-CMM54.42Lumbago with sciatica, left side ICD-10-CMM54.50Low back pain, unspecified ICD-10-CMM54.59Other low back pain ICD-10-CMM54.6Pain in thoracic spine ICD-10-CMM54.81Occipital neuralgia ICD-10-CMM54.89Other dorsalgia ICD-10-CM
Common questions
What's the difference between M54.51 and M54.50?
M54.51 is low back pain documented as vertebrogenic, such as low back vertebral endplate pain. M54.50 is low back pain with no further detail, including lumbago NOS. If the record names the vertebral source, M54.51 is the more specific choice.
Is M54.51 a billable code?
Yes. M54.51 is a billable ICD-10-CM code in the ICD-10-CM FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) code set.