have you ever had out of no where just one toe hurt so bad.....? or the side of your hand. or just your thumb?

I am an artist and I have very bad pain as soon as I start to paint. It is making it very difficult to do my job. The pain manifests as achiness in my palm and swollen joints in my fingers. Some joints are large and swollen. I also have tingling in my fingers. It may be carpal tunnel.

I went to PT for my hands some years ago and they had me soak my hands in heated paraffin first thing before we started. This really helps with stiffness and soreness, and are miraculous if you have been out in could weather. You can buy paraffin baths through Amazon, that is where I found mine.

Any chance you could do your notes on a tablet or small laptop? It might make it easier. I also like a warm steering wheel. Once the car is warm I set it so that the warm air is blowing on the steering wheel.

yes my hands and fingers get very sore off and on. the joints in my fingers feel very tender to touch when this happens and stiff. Like you I do a lot of driving and also I if I do a lot of housework or yard work my hands will flare.