Cramp and spasm

This code signifies involuntary, sustained muscle contractions or painful, localized muscle cramps not attributable to a specific underlying neurological disorder or injury. It represents a symptom rather than a definitive diagnosis of a primary disease process.

Apply this code when documentation indicates a patient presents with generalized muscle cramps or spasms without further specification of a cause. This is appropriate when the physician has ruled out more specific conditions or when the cramp/spasm is the primary reason for the encounter and no definitive etiology is identified.

• Always review documentation for a more specific diagnosis of the underlying cause of the cramp or spasm.
• Refer to the "Excludes2" notes to avoid miscoding specific types of spasms, such as carpopedal spasm or charley-horse.
• This code is often used as a secondary diagnosis when the cramp/spasm is a symptom of another condition, but can be primary if it's the sole reason for the visit.