Dactylitis, otherwise known as “sausage toe,” is a painful swelling that causes digits to look like sausages. This painful toe deformity can cause difficulty in any movement done with the toe, including simple tasks, such as walking.

Dactylitis is not a deformity caused just by wearing tight shoes. Many times this toe deformation comes as a symptom of a more significant underlying issue.

For that reason, it’s essential to see what causes dactylitis and what treatment options are there for someone who suffers from this painful disease resulting in aching toes.

Causes of Sausage Toe

There are several reasons that a toe deformation may appear. Two of the most common reasons may be as symptoms of the following autoimmune diseases:

• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Psoriatic Arthritis

Otherwise known as PsA, psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthropathy most associated with dactylitis. PsA causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue; as a result, triggering painful, damaging inflammation to joint and tendon sheaths.

PsA does not progress with symmetrical joint involvement, meaning that individual digits may swell differently, creating uneven aching toes. Toe deformities can therefore grow on one foot without any deformations appearing on the other foot.

Rheumatoid arthritis

RA, or rheumatoid arthritis, is another autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the joints. When this attack occurs, inflammation occurs around joints, leading to a warm and stiff aching toe.

Unlike PsA, RA works in symmetry. Whatever appears on one side of the body will also appear on the other. Dactylitis is a less common symptom of this disease, but if it were to develop, the toe deformity would affect both sides of the body equally with swelling and stiffness.

The only way to truly determine the cause of a toe deformation is with a physician’s assessment. The treating physician will order several tests and diagnostic imaging along with extensive questions to determine the cause of dactylitis.

Treatment

Once the underlying cause is determined, treatment can be administered.

Both PsA and RA have treatments that can help manage pain and further decay. Unfortunately, neither have a permanent solution.  

Although it may seem daunting, there is still much you can do to help better the situation. Dactylitis sufferers can benefit from treatment with a physical therapist.  

Physical therapists can help patients maintain the function and movement of the small joints. Patients can learn how to cope with the physical limitations caused by dactylitis. A physical therapist can help discover new ways of working and doing daily activities while minimizing the pain.

Another helpful tool can be maintaining a healthy diet, which includes adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, which involves minimizing sugar, gluten, and alcohol intake. It’s also encouraged to increase organic produce, lean meats in moderation, seafood, and the use of olive oil.

Taking The Step

The sooner the underlying root condition is diagnosed and treated, the sooner the dactylitis symptoms will go away. Although incurable, inflammatory arthritis is managed and controlled, resulting in the dactylitis symptoms to lessen or, hopefully, cease entirely.