I have had RA for 43 years and what I do is soak my hands in hot water several times a day and open and close my hands and do hand exercises while my hands are in the water. I also have one of the hand wax machines where you melt the wax and dip your hands in then take your hands out and let it cool then peel it off. My Dr. told me when you stop exercising your joints they will freeze up, so keep them moving even though it hurts.