Okay, so I'm 23 and in good physical condition. I go to the gym four or five days a week. I run, kickbox, lift weights, and do body-weight workouts.
I also have worsening arthritis in my hands.
I'm a chef, so I work with my hands all day which has led to some damage in the joints, I guess. I visited my GP, and they ran some cursory tests - I have carpal tunnel, apparently, but not RA (which is good news!). I was also told that I'm too young to have much pain from arthritis, so I should just take an ibuprofen and suck it up. The pain, I can handle. I am having a hard time with it affecting my workouts, though - I can't grip a dumbbell or bar well enough to be comfortable lifting it over my head; and when I work out in the mornings (which is most of the time), my hands are perma-stuck in a claw-like position, which is great for intimidating your enemies or cosplaying a banshee, but not really for doing pull-ups (or anything that requires hand strength).
Does anyone else with arthritis have suggestions for mitigation or changes I can make to make working out easier?
Or, does anyone have suggestions for workouts that will allow me to continue to challenge my body, without me needing to use my hands so much?
