I do a lot with my hands, have some arthritis since I was forty yo, the best I have found is to soak hands in Epsom salts, and use a product called BLUE GOO. The Blue Goo gel has EMU oil in it, I have used that for all the strained back and muscles pain. My accupuncturist advises 2 cups of the Epsom salt in a bath of hot water for muscle spasms, then I rub with the blue goo. Hope this helps, as I know it is frustrating not to be able to do what we want. CAUTION- do not get the Blue Goo in your eyes. I also start with the ibruphophen, that's not spelled rght, but anyhow if you can take those over the counter pain relievers, they help the inflamation. Good luck pinkcarn