How Do You Get Rid of Dactylitis?

Dactylitis causes the fingers and toes to swell, which can make them look like sausages and is therefore termed "sausage digits." Treatment for dactylitis depends on the cause, which can include antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), TNF or interleukin inhibitors, corticosteroid injections, JAK inhibitors, pain medications, and home remedies.

Dactylitis is a swelling of fingers and toes. 

Also called “sausage digits” because it can cause fingers and toes to look like sausages, treatment for dactylitis depends on the cause. The main form of treatment for dactylitis involves treating the underlying cause.

• Treatment for dactylitis caused by types of spondyloarthritis such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis 
  • Biologics 
    • TNF inhibitors such as adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), and infliximab (Remicade)
    • Interleukin inhibitors such as ustekinumab (Stelara) and secukinumab (Cosentyx)
  • JAK inhibitors such as tofacitinib (Xeljanz) 
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain
  • Local injections of corticosteroids for inflammation
• Treatment for dactylitis caused by infection 
  • Antibiotics
• Treatment for dactylitis caused by gout  
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Corticosteroids 
  • Oral colchicine (Mitigare, Colcrys)
  • Medication to control uric acid levels, including xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs), uricosuric agents, and enzymes that break down uric acid
• Treatment for dactylitis caused by sarcoidosis    
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain
  • Corticosteroids for inflammation
  • Immunosuppressive medications such as methotrexate, azathioprine (Imuran), or TNF inhibitors
• Treatment for dactylitis caused by sickle-cell disease
  • Pain medications
  • Hydration
  • Rest and other measures such as heat packs to ease discomfort

In addition to medical treatments, home remedies for dactylitis may include:

• Cold packs or soaking hands in cold water
• Wearing compression gloves or finger sleeves 
• Using warm paraffin wax, icy hot, or other warming treatments
• Keeping fingers moving with crochet or knitting, a stress ball, or flex and release
• Performing range-of-motion exercises 

Talk to your doctor before starting any home treatment.