I have had issues with my hands beginning when I was 18 yrs old. I eventually got to the point in my 40's that I could not do hand work anymore, but I can do most what ever I want using a sewing machine. You learn to adapt, take frequent breaks some days, use "helper" tools, etc... Use your whole hand whenever possible, not just your thumb and index finger, find rubberized tools so that you do not have to grip them as hard, there have been a lot of other tips on this site too, written by others with arthritis/other health issues. Talk to your doctor, there is usually a balance with arthritis between not over doing it and using those joints enough to keep them from freezing up more, unnecessarily. I would not stop making plans for the future, based solely on this diagnosis.