Carole, I am personally pleased that your sister is not having surgery(for my obvious reasons). I also want to commend her doctor for not just doing it for the heck of it. His honesty is wonderful. But......I feel terrible that she has to endure ths pain. The fact that she's been plagued with such a rare ailment is just awful. She really can't do much about it and that's not good for her at all.

You both have alot of medical issues on your plates, just like I do. It really is a terrible situation. I take ibuprofen, among other things, for my pain and it helps but nothing gets rid of it. Do you have any help available from the drug manufacturer for discounts? In the U.S. we have some pharmaceutical companies that help with supplying the meds to people that can't afford them.
The exercising will help alot. Strengthening the muscles can't hurt.

I wish both of you the best. I hope something comes along soon to take away all the discomfort of arthritis. Something that isn't harmful on the rest of the body. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} to both of you.