Sorry it took so long for me to answer your post worked all day yesterday. To answer your question no I do not have any special diet but I am gluten sensitive so I do try to stay away from foods or beverage that contain gluten. I do not take methotrexate. Now along with exercise I found that if you stay busy during the day it keeps your mind off of your pain or discomfort try it & in the evening you will wonder you got through the day without the discomfort. I also never experienced any muscles pain. Now as I had said it is now mostly in my finger & wrist joints. At the gym it is hard to do any bench presses as it is compressing the wrist joint so I do pull downs & no pain associated with that work. Try it.