Overview
Adiposis dolorosa, also known as Dercum's disease, is a rare and chronic condition where painful fatty lumps (called lipomas) grow under the skin, most often on the trunk, upper arms, and thighs. These lumps are not just cosmetic — they cause significant, often burning or aching pain that can be constant or triggered by touch. The disease most commonly affects middle-aged women, though men and people of other ages can also be affected. Beyond the painful fatty deposits, many people with Dercum's disease experience extreme fatigue, brain fog (difficulty thinking clearly), depression, and joint pain. Some people also notice easy bruising, swelling, and weakness. The combination of pain and fatigue can make everyday tasks very difficult. There is currently no cure for Dercum's disease. Treatment focuses on managing pain and improving quality of life. Options include pain medications, lidocaine infusions, surgical removal of lipomas, and liposuction, though symptoms often return after procedures. A team of specialists is usually needed to manage the many different symptoms of this condition.
Key symptoms:
Painful fatty lumps (lipomas) under the skinChronic widespread pain, often burning or achingExtreme tiredness and fatigueBrain fog or difficulty concentratingDepression or low moodJoint pain and stiffnessEasy bruisingSwelling in the arms or legsWeakness in the limbsWeight gain that is hard to controlSleep problemsHeadachesSkin tenderness even without visible lumps
Clinical phenotype terms (40)— hover any for plain English
Variable
Can be inherited in different ways depending on the underlying gene
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsIstituto Ortopedico Rizzoli — NA
Clinical Center of Vojvodina — PHASE4
Britecyte — PHASE1, PHASE2
Wuxi Cellular Biopharmaceutical Group Ltd. — PHASE3
Rigshospitalet, Denmark — PHASE1, PHASE2
Caliway Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. — PHASE2
Syntr Health Technologies, Inc. — NA
University Hospital of North Norway — PHASE2, PHASE3
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice — NA
Lipogems International spa — PHASE3
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Adiposis dolorosa.
2 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Adiposis dolorosa.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Adiposis dolorosa.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Adiposis dolorosa
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Treatment of Symptomatic Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis: Intra-articular Injection of Autologous Microfragmented Adipose Tissue and Hyaluronic Acid vs Intra Articular Injection of Autologous Microfragmented Adipose Tissue
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: A Phase 1/2a to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Adipose Tissue Allograft (BRC-OA) in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: Adipose-Derived Biocellular Regenerative Therapy for Osteoarthritis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: Allogenic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: A Phase 2b/3a Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of JointStem in Patients Diagnosed as Knee Osteoarthritis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: Evaluating the Effect of Adipose Tissue Processed With the SyntrFuge™ System for Knee Osteoarthritis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: Intraglandular Treatment With Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients With Xerostomia Due to Sjögren's Disease
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: Bone Marrow Versus Adipose Tissue as a Cell Source for Infiltrative Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
New recruiting trial: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of CBL-514 Compared to Placebo in Participants With Dercum's Disease Lipomas
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adiposis dolorosa
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What tests do you recommend to confirm my diagnosis and rule out other conditions?,What pain management options are available to me, and which would you recommend starting with?,Are there any clinical trials or research studies I could participate in?,Should I see other specialists, and if so, who would be most helpful for my symptoms?,Is surgical removal or liposuction a good option for me, and what are the chances the lumps will come back?,Are there any lifestyle changes — such as diet or exercise — that might help manage my symptoms?,How will we track whether my treatment is working, and when should I come back for follow-up?
Common questions about Adiposis dolorosa
What is Adiposis dolorosa?
Adiposis dolorosa, also known as Dercum's disease, is a rare and chronic condition where painful fatty lumps (called lipomas) grow under the skin, most often on the trunk, upper arms, and thighs. These lumps are not just cosmetic — they cause significant, often burning or aching pain that can be constant or triggered by touch. The disease most commonly affects middle-aged women, though men and people of other ages can also be affected. Beyond the painful fatty deposits, many people with Dercum's disease experience extreme fatigue, brain fog (difficulty thinking clearly), depression, and joint
At what age does Adiposis dolorosa typically begin?
Typical onset of Adiposis dolorosa is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Adiposis dolorosa?
Yes — 2 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Adiposis dolorosa on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Adiposis dolorosa?
4 specialists and care centers treating Adiposis dolorosa are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.