I too developed arthritis in my index finger which started around the age of 44 or so after playing guitar professionally since I was 12. It's very frustrating and initially I tried many so called 'cures' and ended up wearing a copper bracelet which seemed to relieve the most pain for a couple of years. After the pain got worse I started on Glucosamine with chondroitan and that seemed to relieve it for a few years but now the pain has gotten considerably worse and the 'heberdens node' on my index finger has increased it's size and become painful to touch. I am now 52 and still playing professionally but aside from taking advil, using aspercream on the joint, still wearing copper and taking Glucosamine I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep playing. For me it's not a matter of chords (which I can play relatively pain free), it's the dexterity and movement required for the complex guitar solos I have to frequently play in a night. I once booked for surgery on it but cancelled after being told there was a great chance of limited use of the finger after. Anybody got any ideas?