10 years ago I had surgery on my right hand for osteo-arthritis. It took a couple of years before my hand was back to "normal" after the surgery. My best advise is to not overuse your hand. Take breaks-often. Do hand exercises after using. I love the fiskar soft-touch scissors that have the spring in them. I mostly use the Olfa largest rotary cutter-that is easiest on my hand. Had a curved handle one, and for some reason, that was harder on my hand than the Olfa...could have been the hand position.