stiffness question

[Guest guest]

I've got a question for all of you who experience stiffness,

particularly in your hands. My hands and fingers are frequently stiff

and sometimes feel weak -- I have trouble opening packages, especially

the kind where you have to grasp and tear, like a foil tuna pouch. I

fumble and drop things a lot, too, because I can't seem to grab things

as tightly as I need to. However, because don't have any visible

swelling, my current rheumy (who I think is borderline incompetent for

other reasons) doesn't seem to understand how I can have such

stiffness without swelling.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,