Rheumatoid Arthritis

I got diagnosed with this late last year. They have put me on tablets for it and I started the gym work seriously then. Today, done some rolling around and hands on stuff at work and bugger me, it feels like I am starting a flare. Its not too bad, just one hand is a bit tender around the joints. No what I know there are a few sufferers on this site so my question is, what do you do? Are there any foods that help you manage this? Will exercise during the flare cause more damage? What about heat or cold compress? Im in the process of finding a new health professional because the last specialist I was sent too told me that life as I knew it would be over. No good sugar coating it etc etc. Dam Dr Gloom I reckon. I am sort of thinking that if I can manage the pain to work through it (using common sense of course, no heavy lifts etc) as keeping it mobile would be a good thing. Anyhow, interested how the rest of you manage it.