Dercum’s Disease: What You Need to Know

What is Dercum’s Disease?

Dercum’s Disease, also known as Adiposis Dolorosa, is a rare condition that causes painful fatty growths, called lipomas, under the skin. These fatty lumps can be found all over the body and can be really painful, making it difficult for people who have it to live a normal life. In this article, we’ll explain what Dercum’s Disease is, what its symptoms are, how it’s diagnosed, and what can be done to help manage it.

The Main Features of Dercum’s Disease

• Painful Bumps: The most noticeable thing about Dercum’s Disease is the painful lumps of fat that grow under the skin. They can be big or small and are often tender to the touch.
• Can Happen Anywhere: These fatty lumps can pop up anywhere on your body, like your arms, legs, stomach, or neck. Sometimes, they show up in multiple places at once.
• Persistent Pain: People with Dercum’s Disease usually have ongoing pain. It can feel like aching, burning, or stabbing, and it might get worse when they move around or if something presses on the lumps.
• Other Problems: Along with pain, Dercum’s Disease can bring other issues like feeling tired all the time, trouble thinking clearly, mood swings, and problems sleeping. These extra problems can make life even harder for people with this condition.

How It’s Diagnosed

Doctors often find Dercum’s Disease hard to diagnose because it’s so rare and the symptoms can be like other health issues. To figure it out, they look at your medical history, do physical exams, and sometimes use special tests like imaging scans. Most people who get Dercum’s Disease are women, and they usually start having symptoms when they’re middle-aged.

How to Manage Dercum’s Disease

There’s no cure for Dercum’s Disease, but there are ways to make life with it better:

• Pain Relief: The main goal is to reduce pain. Doctors might suggest pain medicines, nerve blocks, or therapies like physical therapy and heat to help with the pain.
• Removing Lumps: In some cases, if the lumps are big or very painful, doctors can remove them with surgery. But even after surgery, new lumps might still grow.
• Healthy Habits: Eating well, staying active, and finding ways to manage stress can help improve overall health and reduce pain.
• Emotional Support: Dealing with Dercum’s Disease can be tough, so talking to a therapist or joining a support group can make it easier to cope with the emotional side of things.

The Connection to Lipedema

It’s important to know that Dercum’s Disease can sometimes happen at the same time as another condition called Lipedema. Lipedema is when you have too much fat in your legs, and it can also be painful. When both conditions are present, it can make things even more complicated for patients and doctors.

Understanding the link between Dercum’s Disease and Lipedema is essential to providing the right care and support for people who have them. It means that healthcare teams need to consider both conditions when diagnosing and treating patients who have symptoms like pain, fat lumps, and other related issues.

In Conclusion

Dercum’s Disease is a rare condition that causes painful fatty lumps under the skin. While there’s no cure, there are ways to manage the pain and improve overall well-being. It can sometimes happen alongside Lipedema, another condition that causes fat buildup in the legs. If you or someone you know is dealing with Dercum’s Disease, understanding its challenges and potential connections can help you get the right support and care.