R51.9 – Headache, unspecified
The ICD-10-CM code R51.9 designates that a patient has a Headache, unspecified. Learn this code’s clinical information, whether it’s billable, relevant FAQs, and related ICD-10 codes by reading this guide.
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R51.9 Diagnosis Code: Headache, unspecified
The R51.9 is an ICD code that’s included in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM, for short), and it is used to designate “Headache, unspecified.”
This ICD-10 code has two designations you need to take note of:
- This is an Unspecified Code. This means that not much is known about the specifics of this condition. It’s only used to specify the patient has a headache, but the kind and severity are not yet known.
- It is unsuitable to be used as a Principle Diagnosis if you can determine the specifics during the evaluations. So, only use this when you have yet to determine what type of headache they have and how severe it is.
Is the R51.9 billable?
Yes, the R51.9 ICD-10 code is billable and can be used to designate a patient for reimbursement purposes.
R51.9 clinical information
Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain in the world, and everyone will experience them every now and then.
Headaches come in different types, with one of the most common being migraines, which is a throbbing and/or pulsating pain on one side of a person’s head. This type of headache can be debilitating because it can make people sensitive to light.
Another type of headache is a tension headache, which is the result of muscles tensing up due to stress, anxiety, depression, or by simply not getting enough rest and sleep.
Headaches usually go away in a matter of hours. Some people simply need to drink fluids and eat to get rid of it, some need sleep, and some use pain relievers. More often than not, people don’t need to see medical professionals for their headaches, however, if a person’s headache remains for over three days, is severe, and/or if it comes with other problems, it’s best to see a doctor to get to the bottom of it. Treatment will depend on what type of headache it is.
R51.9 synonyms include:
- Aching headache
- Acute headache
- Aural headache
- Bilateral headache
- Chronic daily headache
- Daily headache
- Morning headache
- Muscular headache
- Nasal headache
- Shooting headache
Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for headaches:
- R51 - Headache
- R51.0 - Headache with orthostatic component, not elsewhere classified
- G43.109 - Migraine with aura, not intractable, without status migrainosus
- G43.909 - Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus
- G43.B0 - Ophthalmoplegic migraine, not intractable
- G43.C0 - Periodic Headache syndromes in child or adult, not intractable
- G44.001 - Cluster Headache syndrome, unspecified, intractable
- G44.011 - Episodic cluster Headache, intractable
- G44.201 - Tension-type Headache, unspecified, intractable
- G44.301 - Post-traumatic Headache, unspecified, intractable
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Commonly asked questions
Yes, this ICD-10 code is billable.
You use it when you have confirmed that a patient has a headache, but you have not identified the specific type, its severity, and if it has certain characteristics.
That will depend on the specific headache, the severity, the cause, and its characteristics. But a common treatment for headaches involves resting, sleeping, eating enough food, drinking fluids, and pain relievers.
