ICD-10 Code for knee pain
The ICD-10-CM code for knee pain is M25.561 when documented without further specification. Knee pain codes to the M25.56- laterality family: M25.561 right, M25.562 left, M25.569 unspecified. The primary lists right knee — assign the side the record documents.
Which Code Should You Use?
What to Document
- Laterality — right, left, or unspecified (drives M25.561/562/569).
- Whether a specific knee diagnosis is established (OA M17.-, derangement M23.-, injury).
- Acute injury vs chronic/atraumatic pain.
Common Documentation Pitfalls
- Assigning M25.569 (unspecified) when the note states right or left knee.
- Coding the pain symptom when a definitive knee diagnosis (e.g. osteoarthritis M17.-) is documented.
Coding Notes
M25.56- is laterality-driven (right 561 / left 562 / unspecified 569). The primary defaults to right, but assign the documented side. Once OA (M17.-) or an internal derangement (M23.-) is confirmed, code that instead of the pain.