2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M79

Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Code:
M79
ICD-10 Code for:
Oth and unsp soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
    (M00–M99)
    • Other soft tissue disorders
      (M70-M79)
      • Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified
        (M79)

M79 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified. 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.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like M79 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Oth and unsp soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified

Non-specific codes like M79 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 oth and unsp soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified:

  • Use M79.0 for Rheumatism, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.1 for Myalgia - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.10 for Myalgia, unspecified site - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.11 for Myalgia of mastication muscle - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.12 for Myalgia of auxiliary muscles, head and neck - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.18 for Myalgia, other site - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.2 for Neuralgia and neuritis, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.3 for Panniculitis, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.4 for Hypertrophy of (infrapatellar) fat pad - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.5 for Residual foreign body in soft tissue - BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.6 for Pain in limb, hand, foot, fingers and toes - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.60 for Pain in limb, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.62 for Pain in upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.63 for Pain in forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.64 for Pain in hand and fingers - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.65 for Pain in thigh - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.66 for Pain in lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.67 for Pain in foot and toes - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.7 for Fibromyalgia - BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.8 for Other specified soft tissue disorders - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.81 for Nontraumatic hematoma of soft tissue - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.89 for Other specified soft tissue disorders - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.9 for Soft tissue disorder, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.A for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.A1 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of upper extremity - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • M79.A2 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of lower extremity - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.A3 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of abdomen - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M79.A9 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of other sites - 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 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
  • psychogenic rheumatism F45.8
  • soft tissue pain, psychogenic F45.41

Patient Education


Connective Tissue Disorders

Your connective tissue supports many different parts of your body, such as your skin, eyes, and heart. It is like a "cellular glue" that gives your body parts their shape and helps keep them strong. It also helps some of your tissues do their work. It is made of many kinds of proteins. Cartilage and fat are types of connective tissue.

Over 200 disorders that impact connective tissue. There are different types:

  • Genetic disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta
  • Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and scleroderma
  • Cancers, like some types of soft tissue sarcoma

Each disorder has its own symptoms and needs different treatment.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Joint Disorders

What are joints?

Your joints are places where two or more bones come together. Your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and knuckles are all joints. Your spine has joints, too.

But joints are more than bones. They include the soft tissues around them, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Cartilage is the hard slippery flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. Tendons are tough, flexible bands that connect your muscles to your bones so you can move your joints. Ligaments connect the bones of the joint to each other to keep them stable when you move.

What are joint disorders?

Joint disorders are diseases or injuries that affect your joints. Injuries can happen because of overuse of a joint. Or you could have a sudden injury, such as an accident or a sports injury.

What diseases can affect the joints?

Many diseases can affect the joints. They often cause joint pain and make your joints stiff, red, or swollen. Most of them are chronic. That means they last a long time. Some may never go away completely. Some of the diseases that affect the joints include:

  • Arthritis. Arthritis may cause joint pain and swelling. There are many types of this disease. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. Over time, arthritis can cause severe joint damage. It can affect people of all ages. A joint injury when you're young may cause osteoarthritis later in life.
  • Lupus. This autoimmune disease affects many parts of the body and can cause joint and muscle pain. Some types of lupus often cause arthritis.
  • Sjögren's Syndrome. This autoimmune disease affects glands that make moisture in many parts of the body. The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but it often causes joint pain, too.

Treatments are different depending on the disease. But most treatments include medicines and therapies to relieve pain and other symptoms.

What types of joint disorders happen from sudden injuries?

Joint disorders from sudden injuries include:

  • Sprains and strains. Sprains are stretched or torn ligaments. Acute strains are stretched or torn muscles or tendons that happen from a sudden injury or movement, such as lifting a heavy object.
  • Dislocated joints. A joint is dislocated when the bones are pushed or pulled out of position. A joint dislocation is a medical emergency.

Treatment depends on the type of injury. You can treat many sports injuries at home. But you should call your health care provider if you:

  • Have a lot of joint pain, swelling or numbness
  • Can't put weight on the joint
  • Have pain from an old injury with more swelling, an unstable joint, or a joint that isn't normal in another way

What types of joint disorders happen from overuse?

Overuse injuries usually damage the soft tissues of the joint. They can happen when you work a joint too hard by doing the same movements over and over. For example, you could get an overuse injury from playing a musical instrument, playing sports, or doing certain jobs, such as carpentry or painting.

Joint overuse injuries include:

  • Bursitis. The bursa is a small fluid-filled sac. It works as a pad between the bones of a joint and the moving parts around it, such as muscles, tendons and skin. With bursitis, the bursa becomes irritated and swollen with extra fluid. Overuse is the most common cause, but injuries, infections and other conditions, such as arthritis, can cause bursitis.
  • Tendinitis. This condition happens when you overuse a tendon. It swells and makes the joint painful to move.
  • Chronic strain. A strain becomes chronic when your muscles or tendons stretch or tear slowly over time from repeating the same movements.

The treatments for bursitis, tendinitis, and chronic strain are often the same. They usually include rest, keeping the injured joint higher than your heart, and taking medicine to reduce swelling. Your provider may recommend gentle exercise and other treatment. In some cases, your provider may suggest an injection (a shot) of medicine into the joint. If these do not help, you may need surgery.

How can I keep my joints healthy?

Getting enough physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to prevent or slow joint disorders. Activity strengthens the muscles around your joints and helps them work better.

When you play sports, wear the right equipment to protect your joints, such as knee pads. If you already have joint problems, ask your provider what type of activities are best for you.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases


[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.