I would do what doesn't hurt your hand. I don't quilt by hand, so my advice is only worth so much, but don't hurt yourself to quilt. Quilting should be fun, not painful. I, like you, have not been quilting long, only 3 years, and I am 65. Nice to know I am not the only one who took up quilting after sewing for years.
I will be interested in what the experienced hand quilters tell you though...
Dina