I admire you for looking for alternatives and for plugging away at this for so long.

I also feel for you. When I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis three years ago I fell apart. I was 27--how could I have arthritis? (simple answer: got dealt bad joints at birth, played competitive athletics for many years, and danced for many yeas). Anyhow, the hardest part for me has been accepthing that I do indeed have limitations, and that those limitations will probably just grow, not lessen with time. It is a tough one but I am so glad you are finding ways to deal.

And yay for swimming!