What is Dercum's disease?

Dercum’s disease, also known as adiposis dolorosa, is a rare disorder characterized by multiple, painful growths consisting of fatty tissue, called lipomas. They mainly occur on the trunk, the upper arms and upper legs and are found just below the skin.

How do members experience Dercum's disease?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with Dercum's disease*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for Dercum's disease*

Who has Dercum's disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 1
30s 6
40s 21
50s 47
60s 59
70+ 16

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 18
Female 134

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What is Dercum's disease?

Dercum’s disease, also known as adiposis dolorosa, is a rare disorder characterized by multiple, painful growths consisting of fatty tissue, called lipomas. They mainly occur on the trunk, the upper arms and upper legs and are found just below the skin.



Common symptoms reported by people with Dercum's disease

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for Dercum's disease

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have Dercum's disease through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with Dercum's disease? Members in the forum might have the answers.


Compare treatments taken by people with Dercum's disease

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have Dercum's disease through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with Dercum's disease? Members in the forum might have the answers.



Who has Dercum's disease on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 0 new patients joined this month
  • 130 say Dercum's disease is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 1
30s 6
40s 21
50s 47
60s 59
70+ 16
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 16
20-29 years 9
30-39 years 12
40-49 years 10
50-59 years 2
60-69 years 2
70+ years 1

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 18
Female 134

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 47
Not Diagnosed 17

These charts show data from Dercum's disease patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: