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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesLeft Arm Pain

Left Arm Pain

ICD-10 Coding for Left Arm Pain(M79.602, M79.621)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYEmergency Medicine
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Left Arm Pain?
Essential facts and insights about Left Arm Pain

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Unilateral left arm pain, possibly radiating from the chest
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) showing ST elevation or depression, cardiac enzymes (troponin) elevated
  • Tenderness on palpation, decreased range of motion, possible swelling or bruising

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history including onset, duration, and character of pain
  • Use of terms like 'acute', 'chronic', 'radiating', and 'localized'
  • Examples: 'Patient presents with acute left arm pain, onset 2 hours ago, associated with chest discomfort.'

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Follow guidelines for differentiating between musculoskeletal and cardiac causes of left arm pain.
  • Common errors include misclassifying pain as musculoskeletal when it is cardiac in origin.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Fractures or dislocations of the left arm
  • Peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy affecting the left arm

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
R52.2
Left arm pain, unspecified
I20.9
Angina pectoris, unspecified
I63.9
Cerebral infarction, unspecified
Ancillary Codes
G89.11
Differential Codes
M79.603
M79.602
M79.602
if the pain is not specifically localized to the upper arm.

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Emergency Medicine

Specialty Applications

  • Adult patients presenting with acute or chronic left arm pain
  • Emergency departments, urgent care centers, and primary care settings

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Document the location, quality, and duration of pain, along with any associated symptoms.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding to reflect the severity and cause of pain for appropriate reimbursement.