Hundreds of lumps

Dear Dr.,

Please help me. I have hundreds of lumps under my skin. I have them under my arm pits, around my waist, in my chest, and down the outside of my legs. Some of them hurt. I also have one larger one just above my belly button. It is about eight inches long. I know people have talked about having one or two, even up to 15. Is it possible to have almost a hundred of more?

Is it posible that I may hame

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Three possibilities are there for your symptoms. Firstly, it can be Lipomatosis, a hereditary condition where multiple lipomas present on the body. Second possibility is of Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum disease), a rare condition involving multiple painful lipomas, swelling, and fatigue. It is generally seen in obese, postmenopausal women. Third possibility is of Benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung disease), another condition involving lipomatosis. It nearly always appears in middle-aged males after many years of alcoholism.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Bornsickie]

I feel there needs to have a few things straightened out with Madelungs, & adiposis dolorosa/Dercum's Disease.
Dercum's Disease is otherwise known as Adiposis Dolorosa. It is mainly found in 50+ females that suffer with weight problems. However; it can also manifest in slim ppl as well as 16% men. And can be found at almost any age for both men and women. Though to date, the postmenopausal and the obese out number the rest.
DD is found to be hereditary. It can be irritated and expand with trauma, be it mental and/or physical. Your happiness also plays a part with how bad flare ups can be.
DD encompasses, the Trunk, Legs, and arms and has recently been found on the bottoms of feet, your face, fingers, head, gums, tongue,
There are 4 different types of tumors you could have with DD. I now have all 4.
Madelungs is not considered DD. However; It is the 4th tumor which is found at the base of your neck... in the center of your shoulders/back.
You can have DD & MD at the same time. Madelungs allows tumors to grow anywhere inside you body. If left unchecked, the tumors could collapse your lungs, heart, and help destroy other organs. Even though Madelungs sounds like a death sentence, I have know several ppl that have lived a very long life with it.
Both diseases are very painful!! they effect your joints... and pretty much every part of your body. You can suffer from depression (especially when you cannot find a Dr. to believe you), you can feel lethargic, tired from doing almost nothing, you can have brain fogs (I call them brain farts) and its very hard to learn things that you didnt know before.
Allot of the tumors can be removed by surgery or liposuction. However there is evidence of them returning.
There are tons of DD sufferers on the web start with....I will email you....and that can lead you to several other sites with ppl that share their pain and their knowledge. I use to have allot on here but... I cannot keep up the info anymore.
Also, men that have been diagnosed with DD or MD are not always lushes! Many have never drank a drop! And most find DD & MD is made more painful from drinking!  Like I stated earlier, its an inherited disease!

[Bornsickie]

It is also and autoimmune disorder and ppl suffer from all sorts of colds, flu's, for years as well as getting previously diagnosed with fibromylagia (fibromyalgia), ibs, and a host of other disease, prior to ever finding out about DD and/or MD.