Yep I would also recommend private physio.
Unlike NHS, they do a lot of hands massage stuff, literally undoing knotted up muscles. Can also advise on exercises, and, v. important for me, how to walk.
Sounds wired, because we can all walk? Yeah, but if you've got arthritis, you tend to move differently, and quite small changes in gait can make arthritic pain and muscle pain much worse.
Other than that? Lose weight - getting rid of all the weight you can/should minimises the forces working on painful joints.
Bio- mechanics guy at hospital was really helpful - again, on gait and how to move, expert input on shoes.
General NHS advice is flat, pref Lace up, well fitted shoes.
I took a bag full to bio- mechanics, his first reaction, well those all look good. So why do my knees ache after wearing some, but much less in this one pair that I can't really wear out because I've worn a hole in them? He was able to show me why, so now I know what to look for.
Perhaps counterintuitively, when you're in pain, is the importance of exercise. I walk, and the stiffness,/ pain gets better, if I stick at it , after the first 15 mins. Or not, some days. Chi Gung ( similar to Tai Chi ) gives me flexibility.