@lioness Thanks for your reply. There's only so much medication can do. Focusing on the pain hurts and frustrates. I'm not saying I'm not in pain. I am. I'm frustrated, too. But I try not to focus on that. Simply finding your safe diet (food and drink you can have without any adverse reactions) and the right time to eat -- these are individual and must be found through trial and error -- can make a big difference. I have my cat in my lap and she feels so good. That eases my pain, as I focus on her weight and warmth. Interests and hobbies take you out of yourself, and that includes out of your pain. When I'm having trouble controlling my hand enough to paint and start feeling sorry for myself, I think of that photo of the famous Impressionist painter Renoir, in his older years, with brushes strapped to his arms because arthritis prevented his painting. I used to look at it and feel sorry for him. Now I admire him in that photo and wonder if his pain lessened or even disappeared as he focused on his great love, painting.

Edited to add: With the brushes strapped to his arms, Renoir could paint, despite the arthritis in his hands.

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