M47.816: Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, lumbar region
Region: Lumbar
By Dr. Daniel Turner, DC · Reviewed September 2, 2026
What does M47.816 mean?
M47.816 is the ICD-10-CM code for lumbar spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy: degenerative facet and vertebral arthritis of the low back documented on imaging, with a clean neurologic picture.
Searched as lumbar spondylosis ICD 10, lumbar facet arthropathy code, and arthritis in the lower back diagnosis code.
When does a chiropractor use M47.816?
The lumbar mirror of M47.812, and the imaging backed code for facet driven low back presentations in older patients. The same discipline applies: it explains the substrate, the symptom code beside it explains the flare, and the pairing is what makes an active treatment claim coherent on a degenerative spine.
Coding rules that matter
- ✓Part of the M47.81 regional family; lumbar is M47.816
- ✓Facet arthropathy language in an imaging report supports it
- ✓With radicular involvement the M47.2 family applies instead
The codes around M47.816
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| M47.814 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, thoracic |
| M47.815 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, thoracolumbar |
| M47.816 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, lumbar (this code) |
| M47.817 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, lumbosacral |
| M47.26 | Spondylosis with radiculopathy, lumbar |
When M47.816 is the wrong code
Not without imaging; spondylosis is what the film shows, not what the palpation suggests. Not when nerve findings appear, which moves the case to M47.26. And not alone on a long care plan, where a current symptom code beside it is what separates active treatment from maintenance in a reviewer’s read.
How does M47.816 work on Medicare chiropractic claims?
Secondary behind M99.03 with a current symptom code alongside. Common and legitimate in the Medicare age population, and safest when the note shows flare based, goal directed care rather than standing appointments.
Where claims go wrong
Solo carrying long care plans; coding it without imaging; ignoring the radiculopathy variant when the exam changes.
How Cervica helps with M47.816
Cervica validates diagnosis pointers line by line before a claim goes out, checks the Medicare subluxation pairing and region agreement automatically, and carries diagnoses forward from the SOAP note so the claim always matches what the documentation actually says.
Related codes
Quick answers
What does M47.816 mean?
M47.816 is the ICD-10-CM code for lumbar spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy: degenerative facet and vertebral arthritis of the low back documented on imaging, with a clean neurologic picture.
When does a chiropractor use M47.816?
The lumbar mirror of M47.812, and the imaging backed code for facet driven low back presentations in older patients. The same discipline applies: it explains the substrate, the symptom code beside it explains the flare, and the pairing is what makes an active treatment claim coherent on a degenerative spine.
How does M47.816 work on Medicare chiropractic claims?
Secondary behind M99.03 with a current symptom code alongside. Common and legitimate in the Medicare age population, and safest when the note shows flare based, goal directed care rather than standing appointments.
References
General information for billing teams, not medical, legal, or coding advice for any individual claim. ICD-10-CM is maintained by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics; the official code set and guidelines control. Payer policies vary.