How to deal with Rheumatoid arthritis? ?

I鈥檓 22 and just found out I have autoimmune disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I also have two small children at home. So, I鈥檓 wondering what kinds of things can help me? I鈥檓 on medication that my Rheumatologist gives me, but I want to know what kind of daily things I can do to help myself. Diet, exercise, pain relief, etc.

POOR CIRCULATION
Poor circulation traps stagnant intracellular fluids in the joints and decreases the availability of nutrients needed for repair and growth of healthy tissues. This can be aided by stretching exercises and massage, along with the topical application of medicinal herbs.

Menthol is one of the principle essential oils derived from peppermint, and acts as a powerful analgesic when applied topically. Initially, it produces a cooling sensation to inflamed areas, followed by a profound cooling effect.

Capsiacin is a resin found in many species of 'hot peppers'. Scientific studies have proven that Capsiacin depletes substance P, a chemical believed to be overabundant in the peripheral nerves of patients with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other painful syndromes. Substance P is released in response to injury or inflammation and pain.

Camphor is a penetrating, medicinal oil derived from the tropical tree, Cinnamonium camphora. When rubbed into painful, stiff joints, ligaments and muscles, it provides soothing "camphor-ice" relief. One mechanism of action of camphor is that it specifically inhibits catecholamine secretion.

Wintergreen(Gaultheria procumbens) is a low growing evergreen shrub found in the damp woods of the Eastern U.S. Oil of wintergreen has chemical properties similar to salicylic acid- an aspirin like compound with pain relieving properties.

Cloves(Eugenia caryphylii) and Allspice(Pimenta diocia) contain the essential oil Eugenol , which acts as an excellent anesthetic (numbs pain). Folk healers in the Caribbean use these herbs as liniments to relieve the pain of arthritis and painful muscles.
.
Boswellia (Boswellia seratta) Boswellia is a gum resin extracted from the bark and trunk from a tree in India. The tree is scraped and the resin is allowed to exude from the tree until it dries. It has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine to treat chronic pain and inflammation. Modern research has disclosed one of the anti-inflammatory modes of action of this botanical to be the inhibition of leukotriene biosynthesis through the impairment of 5-lipoxgenase(5-LO).