Of course your diagnosis may be different but for me that would be an arthritis flare up which happens occasionally. Wait and see what the doc says of course, if you have gout the following won’t work.
I would do just a little bit of easy flexibility exercises and pretend I’m a first year classical guitar student and do a few easy scales and hammer on pull offs once or twice a day. If you are only doing static chords like a lot of folk music requires that doesn’t give your joints enough motion to stay healthy.
I have to watch my diet also, too much sugar, carbs or high fat anything can trigger a flare up.
I’ve been playing 60-90 minutes a day most days for quite some months now… so I’m getting plenty of exercise. And thus far it’s only in my hands - there is some mild discomfort in the right hand as well, but nothing like the left. But I do sometimes sorta “lose lock” on my flatpick, so it is affecting the motor function just a tad. Not (yet) close to a showstopper though, thankfully.
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For arthritis, the important thing of course is to get medical advice and be proactive on whatever treatment you and your doc agree on.
What works for me is to make sure that every joint gets some exercise at least once every day. I look a little strange in public doing my exercises when I feel some stiffness coming on.
But equally important is to not over do anything. There are certain movements that I have to be really careful of. I used to flutter pick a lot but now my elbow and shoulder will only tolerate a little bit of that. I can only sit and watch TV for so long before I have to get up and stretch.
I’m not the best at eating healthy and doing general exercise but that makes a big difference too and I can tell when I’m not being good with that; more joint problems.
Just hit my YT link above at that time and it’ll pop right up.