2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M13

Specific Coding Applicable to Other arthritis

Non-specific codes like M13 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for other arthritis:

Clinical Information

• Arthritis

  acute or chronic inflammation of joints.

• Arthritis, Experimental

  arthritis that is induced in experimental animals. immunological methods and infectious agents can be used to develop experimental arthritis models. these methods include injections of stimulators of the immune response, such as an adjuvant (adjuvants, immunologic) or collagen.

• Arthritis, Gouty

  arthritis, especially of the great toe, as a result of gout. acute gouty arthritis often is precipitated by trauma, infection, surgery, etc. the initial attacks are usually monoarticular but later attacks are often polyarticular. acute and chronic gouty arthritis are associated with accumulation of monosodium urate in and around affected joints.

• Arthritis, Infectious

  arthritis caused by bacteria; rickettsia; mycoplasma; viruses; fungi; or parasites.

• Arthritis, Juvenile

  arthritis in children, with onset before 16 years of age. the terms juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (jra) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (jia) refer to classification systems for chronic arthritis in children. only one subtype of juvenile arthritis (polyarticular-onset, rheumatoid factor-positive) clinically resembles adult rheumatoid arthritis and is considered its childhood equivalent.

• Arthritis, Psoriatic

  a type of inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, often involving the axial joints and the peripheral terminal interphalangeal joints. it is characterized by the presence of hla-b27-associated spondylarthropathy, and the absence of rheumatoid factor.

• Arthritis, Reactive

  an aseptic, inflammatory arthritis developing secondary to a primary extra-articular infection, most typically of the gastrointestinal tract or urogenital system. the initiating trigger pathogens are usually shigella; salmonella; yersinia; campylobacter; or chlamydia trachomatis. reactive arthritis is strongly associated with hla-b27 antigen.

• Arthritis, Rheumatoid

  a chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.

• Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine

  a species of lentivirus, subgenus ovine-caprine lentiviruses (lentiviruses, ovine-caprine), closely related to visna-maedi virus and causing acute encephalomyelitis; chronic arthritis; pneumonia; mastitis; and glomerulonephritis in goats. it is transmitted mainly in the colostrum and milk.

• Crystal Arthropathies

  joint disorders that are characterized by accumulation of microcrystals in and around the joint including in the synovial fluid. they are classified according to the chemical nature of the crystals such as calcium pyrophosphate; basic calcium phosphates; and monosodium urate (see uric acid).

• Lyme Disease

  an infectious disease caused by a spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted chiefly by ixodes dammini (see ixodes) and pacificus ticks in the united states and ixodes ricinis (see ixodes) in europe. it is a disease with early and late cutaneous manifestations plus involvement of the nervous system, heart, eye, and joints in variable combinations. the disease was formerly known as lyme arthritis and first discovered at old lyme, connecticut.

• Osteoarthritis

  a progressive, degenerative joint disease, the most common form of arthritis, especially in older persons. the disease is thought to result not from the aging process but from biochemical changes and biomechanical stresses affecting articular cartilage. in the foreign literature it is often called osteoarthrosis deformans.

• Rheumatic Fever

  a febrile disease occurring as a delayed sequela of infections with streptococcus pyogenes. it is characterized by multiple focal inflammatory lesions of the connective tissue structures, such as the heart, blood vessels, and joints (polyarthritis) and brain, and by the presence of aschoff bodies in the myocardium and skin.

• Spondylarthritis

  inflammation of the joints of the spine, the intervertebral articulations.

• Joints

  also known as articulations, these are points of connection between the ends of certain separate bones, or where the borders of other bones are juxtaposed.

• Spine

  the spinal or vertebral column.

Patient Education

Arthritis

What is arthritis?

If you feel pain and stiffness in your body or have trouble moving around, you might have arthritis. Any disorder that affects the joints is often called arthritis. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee.

Most types of arthritis can cause joint pain and inflammation (swelling). Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged. Some kinds of arthritis can also cause problems in your organs, such as your eyes or skin. Treatment will depend on the type of arthritis you have.

What are the types of arthritis?

Common types of arthritis include:

• Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It's often related to aging or injury.
• Autoimmune arthritis happens when your body's immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of this type of arthritis.
• Juvenile arthritis is a type of arthritis that happens in children.
• Infectious arthritis is an infection that has spread from another part of your body to the joint. Reactive arthritis is one type.
• Psoriatic arthritis affects people with psoriasis (itchy or sore scaly red and white skin patches).
• Gout is a painful type of arthritis that happens when too much uric acid builds up in your body. It often starts in the big toe. Other joints can also be affected.
• Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine that can cause stiffness and make it difficult to move and bend.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Pain, redness, warmth, and joint inflammation are common arthritis symptoms. You may not be able to move your joint as well as it should. Other symptoms could include fever, weight loss, breathing difficulties, or a rash.

Symptoms often get worse as you age. Some symptoms of arthritis may be signs of other illnesses.

Who is more likely to get arthritis?

A few things that might increase your chance of getting arthritis include:

• Family history. You may be more likely to get certain types of arthritis if a member of your family has the disorder.
• Age. The risk of getting many types of arthritis increases with age.
• Sex. Certain types of arthritis are more common in women, while other types are more common in men.

Other factors that might increase your risk of getting arthritis include having a previous joint injury, obesity, or lupus.

How is arthritis diagnosed?

To find out if you have arthritis, your health care provider may:

• Ask you about your medical history, including your symptoms.
• Do a physical exam.
• Order blood tests or take x-rays.

Your provider may refer you to a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in arthritis care) for tests, diagnosis, and care.

What are the treatments for arthritis?

Treatment depends on the type of arthritis you have. It may include medicine or surgery. Your provider will work with you to improve your symptoms and quality of life.

A few ways to help manage your symptoms include:

• Hot or cold packs
• Relaxation techniques
• Use of splints, braces, and/or assistive devices

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Code History

• FY 2026 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2025 through 9/30/2026
• FY 2025 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2024 through 9/30/2025
• 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.