what should i do?

Look into Qigong. My acupuncturist suggested it to me as in Chinese medicine they do not believe in straining your body with heavy weights, cardio. She actually has really mucular arms and that is all she does. I believe it is kind of like tai chi. The DVD she suggested is Eight Simple Qigong Exercises for Health - The Eight Brocades. I have not done it myself.

Other than than, can you use light weights for upper body?? Maybe you can try seated, nonweight leg extensions?? Standing leg curls no weights?? Sorry, don't really have a good answer for you. What type of cardio are you doing?

What about low impact toning such as pilates and yoga?

i am walking 3 or 4 hours a week and i ride an exercize bike 45 minutes a day. i do have some 5 pound weights that i try to lift every day, but my upper body joints hurt too. i also can't grasp a lot of things because the joints in my fingers are starting to get deposits and some of them won't bend.

at least i can't complaon that the weight isn't coming off. it hurts to exercize but i do it anyway.

yeesh! getting old hoovers!

I would seriously look into the Qigong then. I believe a lot of it is slow, purposeful standing movements... good for the mind and the body. I good friend of mine had RA, I know how debilitating it can be. So glad you can walk/bike. Keep that body moving as much as you can. Good luck to you.

have you looked into reformer pilates?

Swimming or water aerobics? Low or no impact, good cardio and good strength builder using water resistance. There are many non swimmer water exercise classes as well as more swimmer oriented ones. If you're a non swimmer, you could always learn.

Try swimming. It work your legs and arms and abs. Also water aerobics. Maybe even water running. I've heard about injured runners going to water running until their injury heals. And they stayed in shape doing it.