Dercum's Disease
Dercum's disease is a rare disease in which you develop growths of fatty tissue called lipomas just under your skin. When these growths press against your nerves, the pain can very severe.
Common symptoms of Dercum's are weight gain that is unrelated to diet or exercise, strange accumulations of fat that have an abnormal consistency, feelings of extreme tiredness and pain to the touch in the affected areas. This disease occurs more often in women than in men.
There are no specific tests for diagnosing Dercum's disease. If you have symptoms, you should see your doctor or a pain specialist to help control your pain.
Recently Answered
- Q How is Dercum's disease diagnosed?
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Dercum's disease is considered to be an under-diagnosed condition, because previous physicians merely regarded the symptoms as consequences of obesity. But Dercum's disease is clearly distinct in the severity of pain experienced and the presence of... Full Answer
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- Q How can medication help someone with Dercum's disease?
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Medications such as pain relievers can be used to manage pain resulting from the lipomas, or fatty lumps that appear on the body. Medication can also aid in temporarily relieving pain from the muscles, joints, or bones. While medication cannot completely... Full Answer
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- Q Is exercise important for someone with Dercum's disease?
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Although some people can contract Dercum's disease while maintaining a healthy weight, a majority of people with Dercum's disease are obese when they are diagnosed. Therefore, a common treatment for people with Dercum's disease is weight reduction, which... Full Answer
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- Q How do other illnesses affect Dercum's disease?
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The most prominent illness associated with Dercum's disease is obesity. Although it is possible to contract Dercum's disease without being obese, most recorded cases are found in obese, postmenopausal women. Several methods of treatment for obesity such... Full Answer
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- Q Where can I find support for Dercum's disease?
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Support groups can be very helpful for long-term treatment of Dercum's disease. They can provide emotional counseling to deal with a variety of symptoms as well as validation from sharing and hearing personal anecdotes. There are many forms of support... Full Answer
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- Q Does Dercum's disease affect children differently than adults?
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The effects of Dercum's disease such as the fatty lipomas generally do not appear in childhood. These and other symptoms begin to appear in middle-aged adults, especially in postmenopausal women. Some research is being done to determine if Dercum's... Full Answer
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- Q How can I manage Dercum's disease on a daily basis?
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Dercum's disease can involve intense pain that occur during daily activities such as opening a can, doing dishes, or simply walking down stairs. The pain can be concentrated in individual lipomas, or it can be spread throughout the fatty or muscle... Full Answer
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- Q What is the rate of incidence for Dercum's disease?
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Dercum's disease is a rare condition that affects a small fraction of people. The majority of people diagnosed with Dercum's disease are postmenopausal women who are also obese. Furthermore, women are 20 times more prone to contracting Dercum's disease... Full Answer
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- Q What lifestyle changes should I make if I have Dercum's disease?
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Treatment for Dercum's disease is mostly focused on controlling pain from specific symptoms. Although each person experiences the symptoms differently, a healthy daily regimen is often the best way to lessen the severity of your symptoms. Maintaining a... Full Answer
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- Q What do I need to know about caring with someone with Dercum's disease?
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The best way to care for someone suffering from Dercum's disease is to provide them with loving support. Dercum's disease can cause emotional and mental instabilities, confusion, or depression, which can seriously hinder someone's desire to seek... Full Answer
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