I can identify with the arthritic stiffening of the fingers. The best method I have found is to change position of the hands to relieve some of the strain and pain. Another thought, and this works sometimes, believe it or not, is just simply ignore it. If you love what you're doing enough then you will adapt some way of doing it! When I "play" the banjo, I have to hold the neck almost vertical to keep my left wrist from popping and doing all sorts of weird things on its own. The chronological year 50 is just around the corner, and it is slowing down the 20 year old trapped inside me, but I find that as the years creep on, the challenge to keep on doing that which I shouldn't anymore just gets better. ;-)