ICD-10 reference

The chiropractic ICD-10 codes, explained properly.

By Dr. Daniel Turner, DC · Reviewed September 2, 2026

Every diagnosis code a chiropractic practice bills weekly: what it means, when it applies, how it pairs with the M99 subluxation codes on Medicare claims, and the exact mistakes that turn each one into a denial. Written from a practice that codes these every day.

Cervical

Code	What it names
M54.2	Cervicalgia
M54.12	Radiculopathy, cervical region
M47.812	Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, cervical region

Cervical injury

Code	What it names
S13.4XXA	Sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, initial encounter
S16.1XXA	Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, initial encounter

Thoracic

Code	What it names
M54.6	Pain in thoracic spine
M54.14	Radiculopathy, thoracic region

Thoracic injury

Code	What it names
S23.3XXA	Sprain of ligaments of thoracic spine, initial encounter

Lumbar

Code	What it names
M54.50	Low back pain, unspecified
M54.51	Vertebrogenic low back pain
M54.59	Other low back pain
M54.16	Radiculopathy, lumbar region
M54.3	Sciatica
M54.4	Lumbago with sciatica
M51.26	Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region
M51.36	Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region
M47.816	Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, lumbar region

Lumbar injury

Code	What it names
S33.5XXA	Sprain of ligaments of lumbar spine, initial encounter
S39.012A	Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, initial encounter

Subluxation

Code	What it names
M99.00	Segmental and somatic dysfunction of head region
M99.01	Segmental and somatic dysfunction of cervical region
M99.02	Segmental and somatic dysfunction of thoracic region
M99.03	Segmental and somatic dysfunction of lumbar region
M99.04	Segmental and somatic dysfunction of sacral region
M99.05	Segmental and somatic dysfunction of pelvic region

Extremity

Code	What it names
M25.511	Pain in right shoulder
M25.551	Pain in right hip
M25.561	Pain in right knee

Head

Code	What it names
R51.9	Headache, unspecified
G44.209	Tension-type headache, unspecified, not intractable

Soft tissue

Code	What it names
M62.830	Muscle spasm of back
M79.1	Myalgia

The companion libraries

The services these diagnoses support live in the CPT library, the claim form they ride on is mapped box by box in the CMS-1500 reference, and when the coding goes wrong the payer answers with a code from the denial library.

General information for billing teams. ICD-10-CM is maintained by CMS and NCHS; the official code set and guidelines control for any individual claim.

See how Cervica validates diagnoses Request sample data access

Common questions

What ICD-10 codes do chiropractors use most?

The most used chiropractic ICD-10 codes are the regional pain codes M54.2 for neck pain and M54.50 for low back pain, the six M99.0 segmental dysfunction codes that report subluxation by region, the radiculopathy codes M54.12 and M54.16, the sciatica combinations in M54.3 and M54.4, and the spinal sprain and strain injury codes used on personal injury cases.

What diagnosis does Medicare require on chiropractic claims?

Medicare requires a subluxation diagnosis on every chiropractic claim, demonstrated by X-ray or by physical examination under the PART criteria. On the claim this lands as an M99.0 segmental dysfunction code for each treated region in the primary position, with a secondary diagnosis naming the condition treated, and the AT modifier on the CMT line for active treatment.