Cervicalgia, commonly known as neck pain, is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the population. In medical diagnosis and record-keeping, it is classified under the ICD-10-CM code M54.2. This code is essential for healthcare professionals, insurance providers, and for statistical tracking of this condition. Understanding what M54.2 Cervicalgia encompasses is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
Decoding M54.2 Cervicalgia
M54.2 is a specific, billable diagnosis code within the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). This means it’s a valid code for medical billing and clearly identifies a specific condition: Cervicalgia. The code officially came into effect on October 1, 2015, with the adoption of ICD-10-CM in the United States, and the current information is based on the 2025 edition, effective from October 1, 2024. It’s important to note that while M54.2 is the US version, international versions of ICD-10 M54.2 might have slight variations.
What Cervicalgia (M54.2) Really Means
Cervicalgia, at its core, refers to pain in the cervical spine, which is the neck region. The ICD-10-CM provides further clarification through approximate synonyms and clinical information, helping to paint a clearer picture of what M54.2 diagnosis encompasses:
- Neck Pain: The most straightforward synonym, indicating discomfort localized in the neck.
- Chronic Neck Pain: Often used when neck pain persists for an extended period, typically defined as longer than 3 months. The synonyms explicitly mention “Chronic neck pain for greater than 3 months” and “Chronic neck pain greater than 3 months” and “Neck pain, chronic, more than 3 months” to emphasize this duration aspect in chronic cases.
- Acute Neck Pain: Conversely, the code also implicitly covers acute neck pain, with synonyms like “Neck pain less than 3 months, acute” and “Pain in cervical spine for less than 3 months” and “Pain, cervical (neck) spine, acute less than 3 months” indicating pain of shorter duration.
- Pain in Cervical Spine: This synonym emphasizes the location of the pain within the cervical spine itself.
Clinically, Cervicalgia (M54.2) is characterized by:
- Marked discomfort sensation in the neck area.
- Pain localized to the posterior or lateral regions of the neck.
Type 1 Excludes: Conditions Not Coded Under M54.2
The ICD-10-CM system uses “Type 1 Excludes” notes to specify conditions that should never be coded together with M54.2. This is crucial for diagnostic accuracy. A Type 1 Excludes note indicates that the excluded condition is distinct and not part of Cervicalgia. In the context of M54.2, the original article mentions “Type 1 Excludes” are for conditions that “cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.” However, the specific conditions excluded from M54.2 are not listed in the provided text. Typically, these exclusions would involve more specific diagnoses that encompass neck pain as a symptom, but are classified elsewhere (e.g., neck pain due to injury, or specific cervical spine disorders separately coded). For precise exclusions, consulting the full ICD-10-CM manual is necessary.
Code History and Context
It’s also useful to note the code history. M54.2 was introduced as a new code in 2016 (effective October 1, 2015) with the implementation of ICD-10-CM. Since then, through the 2025 edition, the code definition has remained unchanged. This stability is important for consistent data collection and analysis over time.
M54.2 falls within a broader group of ICD-10-CM codes, specifically within the range related to dorsopathies (M50-M54), and more precisely within the category for other dorsalgia (M54). Understanding its position relative to adjacent codes, such as M54.1 (Radiculopathy) and M54.3 (Sciatica), helps to contextualize M54.2 within the spectrum of spinal pain conditions.
Conclusion
In summary, M54.2 Cervicalgia is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for neck pain. It encompasses both acute and chronic neck pain and serves as a fundamental code for diagnosing and classifying this common condition. While seemingly simple, understanding the nuances of M54.2, its synonyms, clinical descriptions, and the concept of “Type 1 Excludes” are vital for accurate medical coding and a clear understanding of patient diagnoses in healthcare settings. For professionals involved in medical billing, coding, and healthcare statistics, a solid grasp of codes like M54.2 is indispensable.
