OK I have been doing a lot more manual work than just playing the guitar, so maybe I deserve chronic hand pain, It is becoming debilitating. I've swapped guitars several times, and I now own five. I've been wearing pressure gloves, and trying to arrange my club set so it's easier on my hands. I have been limiting my paintwork on wagons to five hours maximum in one session, but I can hardly move my fingers most mornings.
So- the point of all this whingeing is that I am trying some Chinese medical treatment today. With your permission, I will report back on this thread. If nobody has anything to say I'll stop posting. I am hoping that if this helps me it may help other sufferers.