Signs & Symptoms of Dercum Disease

Dercum disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by mild to intense pain. It is a chronic condition affecting mainly women between 25 and 60, though it can affect other ages and males. Also known as adiposis dolorosa, the disease has numerous symptoms but can be difficult to diagnose.

Causes

• The exact causes of dercum disease are not clear, but it is believed to be an inherited autosomal dominant genetic trait.

Common Symptoms

• The most common symptoms of dercum disease are fatigue, obesity and pain in fatty tissue. Pain can be stabbing, burning, aching and chronic, usually affecting knees, thighs, arms and trunk.

Other Symptoms

• Other symptoms of dercum disease include swelling, numb fingers, fatigue, trouble sleeping, feeling hot, tender feet and skin, headache, memory loss, trouble concentrating, body stiffness, and sensitivity to infections.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing dercum disease includes a physical examination and blood tests to check for infection, immune system activity and to rule out other diseases.

Treatment

• Treatment of dercum disease includes acupuncture, pain medicine, staying warm, taking warm baths, massage therapy and avoiding all types of stress.