I am 61 and started having a lot of joint pain recently.. mostly in my hands. My doctor tested me for Lyme and a few other things.. all negative so he sent me to a rheumatoid arthritis specialist. LUCKILY I do not have rheumatoid arthritis. I was so worried about that being that I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and then Chrohns over the years (Have had a j pouch for about 14 years.)
She put me on a prescription medicine with helped the aches and pains but for almost two months I felt sick to my stomach, went to the bathroom EVEN MORE than my "normal with the j-pouch" and skipped many fun activities due to feeling horrible. So I stopped the medicine!!! She then suggested other medicine but they also have side effects so I said no thanks.
I found out that my insurance covers me 100% for unlimited acupuncture treatments.. with a $30 co-payment and I am going to start with that right after the new year.
My knees don't bother me as much as she thought they should, based on swelling because I dance all the time. One would think my hands would be getting excercise from typing but I don't think so.
I am going to get an hour and a half massage next Thursday. I have my medical marajuana liscense and am putting CDB/THC cream on my hands and elsewhere.. that seems to help. So does hot showers. So does getting more sleep and just feeling generally more well rested. I think taking the time to stretch every day would help me too... and doing gentle stretches in bed... I used to do this all time when I was younger.
Good luck. Maybe some of these suggestions will help you!!!