There's always a way to get round most problems. I had surgery on both wrists a couple of years ago to combat?? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which caused me very painful problems both with guitar and banjo. Didn't do that much good but I believe that if you have some mobility in a joint, then keep using it or you may lose it.Lots of the advice above re medication/ embrocation etc is good, but keep playing. I find that adapting my banjo style to using just thumb and one finger of right hand meant I can keep playing. I also tune my guitar to open tuning so I can play using less fingers - very much in banjo style.
Keep plaing and good luck.

Pete