ICD 10 code for Abdominal Pain

ICD 10 code for Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is very common these days among both men and women which is why the ICD 10 code for abdominal pain is commonly searched for. The ICD 10 code for abdominal pain is R10.9 and it is billable. The code is necessary for diagnosis and treatment, which is another reason why it is commonly researched.

It will interest you to note that this ICD 10 code for abdominal pain was made effective on October 1, 2018. It is the American version and shouldn’t be confused with any of the other international versions.

The rest of this post will provide you with interesting information about abdominal pain which should be very helpful and worth every second of the read.

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is the pain you experience in the stomach region, to be specific, between the chest region and the pelvic area. This is probably why it is also referred to as “stomach aches”. The pain experienced is usually sharp, dull, crampy, intermittent, or achy.

 

ICD 10 code for Abdominal Pain

 

 

Some of the organs located within the abdominal region include:

  1. Small and large intestines
  2. Kidneys
  3. Spleen
  4. Appendix
  5. Gall bladder
  6. Pancreas
  7. Stomach
  8. Liver

Diseases or inflammation to any of these organs could lead to abdominal pain. If they are affected by an infection, bacterial, parasitic, or viral, abdominal pain could occur.

Causes of abdominal pain

Several conditions could lead to abdominal pain. Top culprits are growths, infections, inflammations, intestinal disorders, and obstructions or blockages. Bacteria can affect the digestive tract resulting from blood, throat, and intestinal infections. These could lead to digestion problems like constipation and diarrhea.

Another major source of pain in the lower abdomen is menstrual cramp. More often than not, they lead to pelvic pain.

The more common causes of pain in the abdominal region are

  1. Constipation
  2. Gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu
  3. Diarrhea
  4. Stress
  5. Vomiting
  6. Acid reflux, which is a case of backward leakage of stomach contents into the esophagus. This could result in several symptoms, one of which is heartburn.

It is not uncommon to see diseases of the digestive system resulting in abdominal pain. Some of the common diseases that affect the digestive tract include:

  1. Crohn’s disease. This refers to inflammation of the bowels.
  2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  3. Lactose intolerance, which is a deficiency in digesting lactose. Lactose is the sugar present in milk and products from milk.
  4. Irritable bowel syndrome: this is also known as spastic colon. The disorder causes cramping, abdominal pain and alters bowel movements.

Sometimes the pain experienced could be severe. The causes of  severe pain are mostly:

  1. Kidney stones
  2. The rupture or near-rupture of certain organs. The bursting of appendix tops this list.
  3. Kidney infection
  4. Gallstones or gallbladder stones

Types of abdominal pain

There are 3 types of abdominal pains and they are:

  1. Localized pain
  2. Cramp-like pain
  3. Colicky pain

When the pain is limited to a certain area, it is known as localized pain. That occurs when a particular organ is facing problems. Stomach ulcers are the most common causes.

Cramp-like pain may be caused by bloating, diarrhea, flatulence, or constipation. It may be a result of miscarriages, menstruation, or reproductive disorders in women. The pain may subside without any medication as the pain comes and goes.

More severe conditions, such as kidney or gallbladder stones results in colicky pain. The pain, which is similar to muscle spasm, usually occur suddenly.

Abdominal pain location

Usually, the location will depend on the cause of the pain

When it is generalized, that means it is experienced in the whole abdomen, it may be a result of:

  • Appendicitis
  • Trauma
  • Flu
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Irritable bowel syndrome

When it is mainly on the lower abdomen, it may suggest

  • Ectopic pregnancy: this means a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb.
  • Intestinal obstruction

When the pain is experienced by women in the reproductive organs located in the lower abdomen, then it suggests:

  • Miscarriage
  • Endometrioses
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Fibroids
  • Severe menstrual pain (which also refers to dysmenorrhea)

Pain in the upper abdominal pain is likely to be caused by:

  • Gallstones
  • Pneumonia
  • Hepatitis
  • Heart attack

Pain experienced at the center of the abdomen may be a result of:

  • Gastroenteritis
  • Uremia, is an accumulation of waste products in the blood.
  • Appendicitis
  • Injury

When it is felt in the lower left part of the abdomen, it is likely to be a result of:

  • Cancer
  • Appendicitis
  • Kidney infection
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ovarian cysts

If the pain occurs in the upper left abdomen area, it may be caused by any of:

  • Fecal impaction
  • Cancer
  • Kidney infection
  • Heart attack
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Injury

The causes of lower abdominal pain may be:

  • Flu
  • Hernia
  • Cancer
  • Appendicitis
  • Kidney infection

When you experience it in the upper right abdomen, the cause may likely be::

  • Injury
  • Appendicitis
  • Hepatitis
  • pneumonia

Othe ICD 10 codes relating to abdominal pains can be found here

When to see your doctor

When the pain is mild you may not need to take any treatment. If it becomes extended, then you may have to visit the doctor.

Once you experience severe pain in your abdomen, you know it is time to call 911. This pain may be a result of an accident, injury, or pain in the chest. If you have to curl into a ball because you can’t stand or sit, then you should call the doctor.

Preventing abdominal pain

As you know, not every kind of abdominal pain can be prevented. To reduce the chances of developing abdominal pain, do the following:

  1. Eat healthily
  2. Drink lots of water
  3. Exercise regularly
  4. Eat smaller meals
  5. Avoid lying down immediately after eating.

ICD 10 code for abdominal pain roundup

You probably know why your patient may be experiencing that pain in the abdomen now. The next step is taking the proper steps to fix the issue. Just so you know, the ICD 10 code for abdominal pain may be reviewed any time soon. Whenever it is, be sure that we will provide you with the reviewed code before anyone else.

 

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