The getting on with your life part is the "catch".
He is a Power Lifter and Dry Fires a lot.
First question my doctor asked was "any activities requiring a lot of Grip?"
Surgery is a last option for me as I don't want to risk numbness in my fingers and I don't want to do anything to change my range of motion/fine motor skills.
I have problems in my wrists, shoulders, back, knees, one hip, feet.
They are all from repetitive motion, holding grips a long time (Stick fighting, boxing, grappling, breaking boards when i was a dumb kid, guitar, drums for me).
15 years ago I was having SEVERE trouble that was keeping me from working.
Now I am able to keep it in check without having to be on a daily dose of CELEBREX.
I have a good friend that has had two knee surgeries (same knee) has a fracture in his elbow that can't be fixed and just had surgery on his wrist to repair tendons.
We have to learn how survive our hobbies and jobs
I hear ya. Real life feedback is typically, "Wish I had done that sooner" not "I really should have stuck with the massage/medications/PT/copper bracelets/special gloves."
I'm just sayin'...