Working through arthritis and other issues

[DORKtoDIVA]

I have arthritis in my knees and hips.

When I exercise my upper body, it's pretty straightforward for me. I'm new to it so I'm weak, but no big deal, I will just keep working out and keep pushing myself, and I'll get stronger. Fine.

Core exercises are a little harder for me (maybe for everyone, I don't know) but it's still the same, I'll just keep at it. I experience DOMS but not "pain." Feels great!

But the lower body, now that is like torture for me. Take the leg curl. My knees, particularly the right one, will pop every single rep. It's not strictly painful but still excrutiating, like nails on chalkboard, only it actually feels bad too. I curse like a sailor the whole time, I'm whiny and overall very bad-tempered about these exercises.

The amount of weight that my knees can handle is signficantly smaller than the amount my muscles can handle (even though my muscles are pretty weak anyway). So do I just do whatever I think my joints can handle, and can I expect my joints to improve and be able to take on more weight eventually?

I assume this is stuff I just work through, as opposed to actual OUCH! pain which you should never tolerate.

Is there any hope for improving these joints?

Also, while my hip arthrtitis has not been bothering me lately, the day after I work out my lower body (even though my workout is pathetic) I can barely walk, and feel like my hips are loose or something. It's not painful but certainly uncomfortable.

In case you're thinking, "take it down a notch, lady! you're pushing yourself way too hard if you can't even walk the next day" this is the routine I'm doing, I hardly think it's excessive:

1 set of 10 leg curls with 10 pounds (yeah you read that right. and it IS nothing for my muscles)
1 set of 10 leg extensions with 10 pounds (I hate this one too)
2 wall squats, 30 seconds each (this one leaves me groaning)
Deadlifts (still working out sets and reps and weights, but this one does not bother me)

Annnnnnddddd... that's it.

I also plan to add lunges but haven't done any yet.