Hi, I was flying with a friend who was new to piloting and held the yoke with a white knuckle grip. He was trying to maintain an altitude, but was raising the nose above the horizon, then pointing it down at -5 degrees, all in an attempt to maintain 2000ft.
I showed him that by correctly setting the trim you could achieve a hands-free zero rate of climb ( well +- 100fpm in the turbulance.)
Then if the trim was adjusted to give 100 fpm climb, (i.e. +half a notch.) I could fly the plane with just my thumb or fore-finger pushing the yoke.
Some planes because of their high dihederal, can be flown hands-off for ten minutes or more... And of course it is so much easier with an auto-pilot !
Best of luck with the aches and pains, try to avoid using your pneumatic rock drill. !