Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M51

Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders

ICD-10-CM Code:
M51
ICD-10 Code for:
Thoracic, thoracolum, and lumbosacral intvrt disc disorders
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
    (M00–M99)
    • Other dorsopathies
      (M50-M54)
      • Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
        (M51)

M51 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Thoracic, thoracolum, and lumbosacral intvrt disc disorders

Non-specific codes like M51 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 thoracic, thoracolum, and lumbosacral intvrt disc disorders:

  • M51.0 for Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.04 for Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracic region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.05 for Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracolumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.06 for Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • M51.1 for Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.14 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracic region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.15 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.16 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.17 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

  • M51.2 for Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc displacement - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.24 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracic region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.25 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracolumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.26 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.27 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

  • M51.3 for Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc degeneration - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.34 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracic region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.35 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracolumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.36 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.37 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

  • M51.4 for Schmorl's nodes - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.44 for Schmorl's nodes, thoracic region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.45 for Schmorl's nodes, thoracolumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.46 for Schmorl's nodes, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.47 for Schmorl's nodes, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

  • M51.8 for Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.84 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, thoracic region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.85 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, thoracolumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.86 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.87 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.9 for Unspecified thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorder - BILLABLE CODE

  • M51.A for Other lumbar and lumbosacral annulus fibrosus disc defects - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.A0 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, lumbar region, unspecified size - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.A1 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.A2 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, large, lumbar region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.A3 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, lumbosacral region, unspecified size - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.A4 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M51.A5 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, large, lumbosacral region - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders M50
  • sacral and sacrococcygeal disorders M53.3

Patient Education


Spine Injuries and Disorders

Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include:

  • Infections
  • Injuries
  • Tumors
  • Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
  • Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks

Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Intervertebral disc disease

Intervertebral disc disease is a common condition characterized by the breakdown (degeneration) of one or more of the discs that separate the bones of the spine (vertebrae), causing pain in the back or neck and frequently in the legs and arms. The intervertebral discs provide cushioning between vertebrae and absorb pressure put on the spine.

While the discs in the lower (lumbar) region of the spine are most often affected in intervertebral disc disease, any part of the spine can have disc degeneration. Depending on the location of the affected disc or discs, intervertebral disc disease can cause periodic or chronic pain in the back or neck. Pain is often worse when sitting, bending, twisting, or lifting objects.

Degenerated discs are prone to out-pouching (herniation); the protruding disc can press against one of the spinal nerves that run from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. This pressure causes pain, weakness, and numbness in the back and legs. Herniated discs often cause nerve pain called sciatica that travels along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the length of each leg.

As a disc degenerates, small bony outgrowths (bone spurs) may form at the edges of the affected vertebrae. These bone spurs may pinch (compress) the spinal nerves, leading to weakness or numbness in the arms or legs. If the bone spurs compress the spinal cord, affected individuals can develop problems with walking and bladder and bowel control. Over time, a degenerating disc may break down completely and leave no space between vertebrae, which can result in impaired movement, pain, and nerve damage.


[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.