M54.81 – Occipital Neuralgia
Learn more about M54.81, the ICD-10-CM code for occipital neuralgia. Understand its clinical characteristics, billing status, linked codes, and more.
By Harriet Murray on Feb 29, 2024.
Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.
M54.81 Diagnosis Code: Occipital Neuralgia
Clinical Description:
- M54.81 is the ICD-10-CM code that corresponds to a diagnosis of occipital neuralgia.
- Occipital neuralgia is characterized by intense, sharp, and jabbing pain in the back of the head and neck and sometimes behind the eyes.
- It's often confused with migraines or other headaches due to similar symptoms.
- The pain typically comes from irritation or injury to the occipital nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord to the scalp.
- Causes may include trauma, tension, or inflammation in the neck muscles.
Is M54.81 Billable?
The M54.81 code can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
Clinical Information
- Occipital neuralgia often results in a reduced quality of life due to the severity of the pain.
- Physical stress, poor posture, and repetitive neck movements can exacerbate the condition.
- Diagnosis involves a physical examination, patient history, and sometimes, nerve blocks.
- Treatment typically includes pain management through medication, physical therapy, and in severe cases, nerve blocks or surgery.
Synonyms Include:
- Neuralgia, occipital
- Occipital headache
- C2 neuralgia
- Arnold's neuralgia
- Nervus occipitalis neuralgia
Other ICD-10 Codes Commonly Used for Occipital Neuralgia
- G44.841 - Chronic migraine without aura, intractable, with status migrainosus
- G50.0 - Trigeminal neuralgia
- G44.1 - Vascular headache, not elsewhere classified
- G43.109 - Migraine without aura, not intractable, without status migrainosus
- M54.2 - Cervicalgia
- M53.1 - Cervicocranial syndrome
- M54.6 - Pain in the thoracic spine
- G44.89 - Other specified headache syndromes
- M54.30 - Sciatica, unspecified side
.png)
Commonly asked questions
The M54.81 code is used when a healthcare provider diagnoses a patient with occipital neuralgia.
Treatments for occipital neuralgia (M54.81) typically involve pain management strategies such as medication, physical therapy, and in severe cases, nerve blocks or surgical intervention.
The M54.81 diagnosis code corresponds to a medical condition known as occipital neuralgia, a headache characterized by sharp, severe pain in the back of the head and neck.
Related Guides
