2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G25.0

Essential tremor

ICD-10-CM Code:
G25.0
ICD-10 Code for:
Essential tremor
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the nervous system
    (G00–G99)
    • Extrapyramidal and movement disorders
      (G20-G26)
      • Other extrapyramidal and movement disorders
        (G25)

G25.0 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of essential tremor. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Essential tremor
  • Essential tremor
  • Essential tremor
  • Fragile X associated tremor ataxia syndrome
  • Hereditary essential tremor
  • Hereditary essential tremor
  • Hereditary essential tremor
  • Isolated facial tremor
  • Isolated head tremor
  • Isolated vocal tremor
  • Premature canities
  • Sensorineural hearing loss, early graying, essential tremor syndrome
  • Tremor, nystagmus, duodenal ulcer syndrome

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Essential Tremor

    a relatively common disorder characterized by a fairly specific pattern of tremors which are most prominent in the upper extremities and neck, inducing titubations of the head. the tremor is usually mild, but when severe may be disabling. an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance may occur in some families (i.e., familial tremor). (mov disord 1988;13(1):5-10)
  • Essential Tremor

    a movement disorder characterized by involuntary and rhythmic shaking of parts of the body, most often the hands or arms, that can be triggered or worsened by physical or environmental stressors. essential tremor may be progressive and can be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Convert G25.0 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 333.1 - Tremor NEC
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Tremor

What is a tremor?

A tremor is a rhythmic shaking movement in one or more parts of your body. It is involuntary, meaning that you cannot control it. This shaking happens because of muscle contractions.

A tremor is most often in your hands, but it could also affect your arms, head, vocal cords, trunk, and legs. It may come and go, or it may be constant. Tremor can happen on its own or be caused by another disorder.

What are the types of tremor?

There are several types of tremor, including:

  • Essential tremor, sometimes called benign essential tremor. This is the most common type. It usually affects your hands, but it can also affect your head, voice, tongue, legs, and trunk.
  • Parkinsonian tremor, which is a common symptom in people who have Parkinson's disease. It is usually affects one or both hands when they are at rest, but it can affect the chin, lips, face, and legs.
  • Dystonic tremor, which happens in people who have dystonia. Dystonia is a movement disorder in which you have involuntary muscle contractions. The contractions cause you to have twisting and repetitive movements. It can affect any muscle in the body.

What causes tremor?

Generally, tremor is caused by a problem in the deep parts of the brain that control movements. For most types, the cause is unknown. Some types are inherited and run in families. There can also be other causes, such as:

  • Neurologic disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury
  • Certain medicines, such as asthma medicines, amphetamines, caffeine, corticosteroids, and medicines used for certain psychiatric and neurological disorders
  • Alcohol use disorder or alcohol withdrawal
  • Mercury poisoning
  • Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
  • Liver or kidney failure
  • Anxiety or panic

Who is at risk for tremor?

Anyone can get tremor, but it is most common in middle-aged and older adults. For certain types, having a family history raises your risk of getting it.

What are the symptoms of tremor?

Symptoms of tremor may include:

  • Rhythmic shaking in the hands, arms, head, legs, or torso
  • Shaky voice
  • Difficulty writing or drawing
  • Problems holding and controlling utensils, such as a spoon

How is tremor diagnosed?

Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:

  • A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
  • A physical exam, which includes checking
    • Whether the tremor happens when the muscles are at rest or in action
    • The location of the tremor
    • How often you have the tremor and how strong it is
  • A neurological exam, including checking for
    • Problems with balance
    • Problems with speech
    • Increased muscle stiffness
  • Blood or urine tests to look for the cause
  • Imaging tests to help figure out if the cause is damage in your brain
  • Tests which check your abilities to do daily tasks such as handwriting and holding a fork or cup
  • An electromyogram, a test which measures involuntary muscle activity and how your muscles respond to nerve stimulation

What are the treatments for tremor?

There is no cure for most forms of tremor, but there are treatments to help manage symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms may be so mild that you do not need treatment.

Finding the right treatment depends on getting the right diagnosis of the cause. Tremor caused by another medical condition may get better or go away when you treat that condition. If your tremor is caused by a certain medicine, stopping that medicine usually makes the tremor go away.

Treatments for tremor where the cause is not found include:

  • Medicines. There are different medicines for the specific types of tremor. Another option is Botox injections, which can treat several different types.
  • Surgery may be used for severe cases that do not get better with medicines. The most common type is deep brain stimulation (DBS).
  • Physical, speech-language, and occupational therapy, which may help to control tremor and deal with the daily challenges caused by the tremor

If you find that caffeine and other stimulants trigger your tremors, it may be helpful to cut them from your diet.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Essential tremor

Essential tremor is a movement disorder that causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking (tremor), especially in the hands. It is distinguished from tremor that results from other disorders or known causes, such as Parkinson's disease or head trauma. Essential tremor usually occurs alone, without other neurological signs or symptoms. However, some experts think that essential tremor can include additional features, such as mild balance problems.

Essential tremor usually occurs with movements and can occur during many different types of activities, such as eating, drinking, or writing. Essential tremor can also occur when the muscles are opposing gravity, such as when the hands are extended. It is usually not evident at rest.

In addition to the hands and arms, muscles of the trunk, face, head, and neck may also exhibit tremor in this disorder; the legs and feet are less often involved. Head tremor may appear as a "yes-yes" or "no-no" movement while the affected individual is seated or standing. In some people with essential tremor, the tremor may affect the voice (vocal tremor).

Essential tremor does not shorten the lifespan. However, it may interfere with fine motor skills such as using eating utensils, writing, shaving, or applying makeup, and in some cases these and other activities of daily living can be greatly impaired. Symptoms of essential tremor may be aggravated by emotional stress, anxiety, fatigue, hunger, caffeine, cigarette smoking, or temperature extremes.

Essential tremor may appear at any age but is most common in older adults. Some studies have suggested that people with essential tremor have a higher than average risk of developing neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease or sensory problems such as hearing loss, especially in individuals whose tremor appears after age 65.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.