R52
Billable codePain, unspecified
The ICD-10 code for pain, unspecified is R52.
Clinical notes
Excludes1 (not coded here)
An Excludes1 note is a pure exclusion: the excluded condition and this code should never be reported together, because the two conditions cannot occur at the same time (e.g. a congenital form vs. an acquired form of the same disease).
- acute and chronic pain, not elsewhere classified (G89.-)
- localized pain, unspecified type - code to pain by site, such as:
- abdomen pain (R10.-)
- back pain (M54.9)
- breast pain (N64.4)
- chest pain (R07.1-R07.9)
- ear pain (H92.0-)
- eye pain (H57.1)
- headache (R51.9)
- joint pain (M25.5-)
- limb pain (M79.6-)
- lumbar region pain (M54.5-)
- pelvic and perineal pain (R10.2-)
- shoulder pain (M25.51-)
- spine pain (M54.-)
- throat pain (R07.0)
- tongue pain (K14.6)
- tooth pain (K08.8)
- renal colic (N23)
- pain disorders exclusively related to psychological factors (F45.41)
Also known as
Alternate wording, synonyms, or specific conditions that fall under this code, listed to help confirm you've picked the right one.
- Acute pain NOS
- Generalized pain NOS
- Pain NOS
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •This code describes an unspecified presentation. If the medical record documents a more specific detail (e.g. laterality, type, or affected site), a more specific sibling code should be used instead — see Related codes below.
- •Confirm the excluded condition(s) listed above are not also present — Excludes1 conditions cannot be coded together with this one.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Related codes in this category
- R50Fever of other and unknown originnon-billable header
- R51Headachenon-billable header
- R53Malaise and fatiguenon-billable header
- R54Age-related physical debility
- R55Syncope and collapse
- R56Convulsions, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header
- R57Shock, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header
- R58Hemorrhage, not elsewhere classified
- R59Enlarged lymph nodesnon-billable header
- R60Edema, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header
- R61Generalized hyperhidrosis
- R62Lack of expected normal physiological development in childhood and adultsnon-billable header
- R63Symptoms and signs concerning food and fluid intakenon-billable header
- R64Cachexia
- R65Symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infectionnon-billable header
- R68Other general symptoms and signsnon-billable header
- R69Illness, unspecified
- R52Pain, unspecified
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Informational only — GEM mappings are approximate, not guaranteed one-to-one equivalents. Verify before use in billing.
- 33819Approximate match
- 78096Approximate match
Associated MS-DRGs
R52 can serve as the principal diagnosis for these Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups.
Informational only — actual DRG assignment also depends on procedures, complications/comorbidities (CC/MCC), discharge status, and payer-specific rules not reflected here.