Disturbance of skin sensation

This code represents a general alteration in the normal perception of touch, pressure, temperature, or pain on the skin. It encompasses a range of sensory abnormalities, such as numbness, tingling, burning, or heightened sensitivity, without specifying the underlying cause.

Use this code when documentation indicates a patient is experiencing abnormal skin sensations like paresthesia, dysesthesia, or hypoesthesia, and a more specific diagnosis is not yet established or documented. It is appropriate for initial evaluations of sensory disturbances or when the etiology remains unknown.

• Always attempt to code to a more specific diagnosis if the underlying cause of the sensory disturbance is identified (e.g., neuropathy, radiculopathy).
• This code is often used as a symptom code and may require an additional code for the definitive diagnosis if known.
• Avoid using this code if the sensory disturbance is directly attributable to a psychiatric condition, as specific codes for somatoform disorders or conversion disorders may be more appropriate.