Dercum’s Disease

A deeper look at a rare and painful adipose tissue disorder

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Understanding Dercum’s Disease

Dercum’s Disease, also known as adiposis dolorosa, is a rare chronic condition characterized by painful fatty deposits beneath the skin. These nodules or areas of adipose tissue can develop in various regions of the body, including the arms, legs, abdomen, buttocks, and trunk. The pain associated with Dercum’s Disease can be persistent, tender to touch, and may worsen over time.

In addition to painful fat deposits, individuals may experience fatigue, brain fog, swelling, easy bruising, sleep disturbances, and mood changes. Many patients also report overlapping symptoms with lipedema, chronic inflammation, mast cell activation, or connective tissue disorders.

Because Dercum’s Disease is uncommon and often misunderstood, diagnosis is frequently delayed. Many individuals are told their symptoms are weight related or unexplained before receiving appropriate evaluation.

Comprehensive Dercum’s Disease Evaluation

At our clinic, we approach Dercum’s Disease with a whole body, inflammation informed perspective. Proper evaluation is essential, as painful adipose tissue disorders require a different approach than traditional weight management.

Our providers conduct a detailed clinical evaluation including medical history, symptom pattern assessment, physical examination, and identification of painful nodules or diffuse adipose tenderness. We assess contributing factors such as systemic inflammation, immune activation, metabolic dysfunction, hormone imbalance, and overlapping conditions like lipedema or mast cell activation. When appropriate, we provide referrals for imaging or specialty evaluation to help confirm diagnosis and clarify disease patterns.

Inflammation, Immune Activation, and Pain

Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation are believed to play a significant role in Dercum’s Disease. Mast cell activation, cytokine imbalance, and metabolic dysfunction may contribute to persistent pain and tissue sensitivity.

To better understand inflammatory drivers, we may recommend advanced testing such as the Mediator Release Test (MRT). Identifying food and chemical triggers allows us to reduce immune activation that may be worsening pain and systemic symptoms.

Reducing inflammatory burden is often a key component of improving overall symptom stability.

Personalized Management Plans

Dercum’s Disease requires individualized, conservative care focused on symptom management and improving quality of life. While there is no cure, targeted support can help reduce inflammation, improve metabolic stability, and support tissue health. Management plans may include:

Trigger Identification and Anti Inflammatory Nutrition

When appropriate, MRT guided nutrition strategies are used to reduce immune activation and inflammatory triggers that may worsen pain and swelling.

Hormonal, Metabolic, and Nutritional Support

We assess metabolic markers, hormone balance, and nutrient status to identify contributors to systemic inflammation and tissue dysfunction. Targeted supplementation and physician guided therapies may be recommended to support connective tissue health, immune balance, and pain modulation.

Pain and Lifestyle Support

We provide guidance on gentle movement strategies, nervous system regulation, sleep optimization, and stress management. Because chronic pain can amplify nervous system sensitivity, supporting regulation and resilience is an important component of care.

Our goal is to empower patients with sustainable strategies that support comfort, stability, and long term function.

Why Choose Our Clinic for Dercum’s Disease Care?

Dercum’s Disease is rare and often dismissed. Our clinic understands the complexity of painful adipose disorders and their overlap with inflammation, immune dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance.

We provide compassionate, physician led evaluation and conservative management while offering referrals when additional specialty care is needed. Our approach focuses on reducing inflammatory burden, validating symptoms, and helping patients feel supported in their care journey.

Take the First Step Toward Answers

If you are experiencing painful fatty nodules, persistent tenderness, unexplained swelling, or chronic inflammatory symptoms, Dercum’s Disease may be a consideration. Schedule a visit with our physician to discuss evaluation, testing options, and personalized strategies tailored to your health needs.

 Dercum’s Disease FAQs

  • Dercum’s Disease is a rare chronic condition characterized by painful fatty deposits under the skin. It is also known as adiposis dolorosa and can cause persistent pain and systemic symptoms.

  • While both involve abnormal adipose tissue, lipedema typically presents as symmetrical fat accumulation in the legs and sometimes arms, whereas Dercum’s Disease involves distinct painful nodules or diffuse painful fat deposits that may occur in various body areas.

  • The exact cause of Dercum’s is not fully understood. It is believed to involve inflammation, immune dysregulation, metabolic dysfunction, and possibly genetic factors.

  • Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on symptom history and physical examination identifying painful adipose tissue. Imaging or specialist referral may be recommended in certain cases.

  • There is no cure for Dercum’s, but symptoms can often be managed through inflammation reduction, metabolic support, pain management strategies, and individualized conservative care.