Keep in mind that after any immobilization any bone/muscle pain from disuse is going to be noticeable for a little while. I would highly recommend doing daily massage from the base of your scull down throughout your arms and hands. The relaxation and blood circulation throughout your arms will be important factors in helping your soft tissue and bones heal. In case also you weren't aware but arthritis is made worse by disuse that is why even in elderly people they recommend daily walking, you need the impact on the joints to keep the bones healthy. Even after arthritis is set in.. even more important to slow down the progression or stop it. Bounce a tennis ball against a wall - catch it and do it again (or better yet play ball/Frisbee with a dog, play Yahtzee, shuffle cards, peel potatoes, put a puzzle together, lift a soup can for several repetitions etc., buy some silly putty and squeeze it so many different things you can do to help heal your hands and keep arthritic pain at bay. Celebrex is also a great medication for arthritic pain