Stretching helps and strengthening the muscles around the affected joints with isometric exercises. Isometrics stress the joints a lot less and once strengthened can support the joint without agitating it. I have done this thru my PT on my ankle, hand and knee. It works.
Also Gabapentin seems to help. I was already taking it for femoral nerve pain but my arthritis in my right hand would wake me up. We tried increasing the dose of Gabapentin at night and it really helped. And helped throughout the day too.