Dercuma Disease

Derkuma Disease: what is it and how does it manifest?

Dercuma disease, also known as adiposalgia, Dercuma syndrome, lipalgia, morbid lipomatosis or morbid obesity, is a rare condition that is characterized by the presence of painful fatty deposits under the skin. These deposits can occur in different areas of the body, most commonly on the arms, legs, abdomen and back.

The disease was described by American neurologist and psychiatrist Francis Xavier Dercum in 1888. It occurs mainly in women and can begin at any age, but most often occurs in people over 45 years of age.

With dercuma disease, patients often complain of various pains in the area of ​​fat deposits. The pain can be aching, sharp, stabbing or burning. Sometimes they can be so strong that they lead to disruption of normal life activities. In addition, patients may experience other symptoms such as headaches, weakness, fatigue, insomnia and depression.

The cause of dercum disease is still unknown. However, some studies indicate that the disease may be associated with disruption of normal fat metabolism in the body.

Diagnosing dercum disease can be difficult because the symptoms of the disease can resemble those of other diseases. However, additional tests such as fat biopsy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of dercum disease is aimed at reducing pain. For this purpose, various drugs may be prescribed to relieve pain, such as analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Physiotherapy techniques such as massage therapy and exercise therapy may also be used.

In general, Dercuma disease is a rare and poorly understood disease that can significantly impair the quality of life of patients. Therefore, for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, it is important to contact an experienced specialist in the field of neurology or rheumatology.