You may consider working with a pain management specialist or mental health professional if you live with this rare but painful disorder that can affect your arms and legs.
Dercum’s disease is a rare disorder that causes painful growths of fatty tissue called lipomas. It’s also referred to as adiposis dolorosa. This disorder usually affects the torso, upper arms, or upper legs.
According to a review in the
The symptoms of Dercum’s disease can vary from person to person. However, almost all people with Dercum’s disease have painful lipomas that grow slowly.
Lipoma size can range from that of a small marble to a human fist. For some people, the lipomas are all the same size, while others have several sizes.
Lipomas associated with Dercum’s disease are often painful when pressed, possibly because those lipomas are putting pressure on a nerve. For some people, the pain is constant.
Other symptoms of Dercum’s disease may include:
- weight gain
- swelling that comes and goes in different parts of the body, often the hands
- fatigue
- weakness
- depression
- problems with thinking, concentration, or memory
- easy bruising
- stiffness after laying down, especially in the morning
- headaches
- irritability
- difficulty sleeping
- rapid heart rate
- shortness of breath
- constipation
Doctors aren’t sure what causes Dercum’s disease. In most cases, there doesn’t seem to be an underlying cause.
Some researchers think it may by an autoimmune disorder, which is a condition that causes your immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. Others believe it’s a metabolic problem related to not being able to properly break down fat.
There’s no standard criteria for diagnosing Dercum’s disease. Instead, your doctor will likely focus on ruling out other possible conditions, such as fibromyalgia or lipedema.
To do this, your doctor might biopsy one of your lipomas. This involves taking a small tissue sample and looking at it under a microscope. They may also use a CT scan or MRI scan to help them make a diagnosis.
If you’re diagnosed with Dercum’s disease, your doctor may classify it based on the size and location of your lipomas. These classifications include:
- nodular: large lipomas, usually around your arms, back, abdomen, or thighs
- diffuse: small lipomas that are widespread
- mixed: a combination of both large and small lipomas
There’s no cure for Dercum’s disease. Instead, treatment usually focuses on pain management using:
- prescription pain relievers
- cortisone injections
- calcium channel modulators
- methotrexate
- infliximab
- interferon alpha
- surgical removal of lipomas
- liposuction
- electrotherapy
- acupuncture
- intravenous lidocaine
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- staying healthy with anti-inflammatory diets and low-impact exercise such as swimming and stretching
In many cases, people with Dercum’s disease benefit the most from a combination of these treatments. Consider working with a pain management specialist to find the safest combination that’s most effective for you.
Dercum’s disease can be hard to diagnose and treat. Chronic, severe pain can also lead to problems such as depression and addiction.
If you have Dercum’s disease, consider working with a pain management specialist as well as a mental health professional for added support. You might also find an online or in-person support group for people with rare diseases.