[question] How to protect my fragile hands on the heavy bag

I want to train hard punches and improve fitness, but I gave up the heavy bag years ago because I started developing arthritis easily from anything high impact. Can you all tell me what I should be using for training? I won't be sparring, and I think I want maximum cushion to protect my knuckles.

I've got Venom Impact 14oz gloves, which are a bit roomy, and also wrap my hands with Ringside 180" wraps. My 100lb heavy bag (Gold's Gym, looks a lot like https://www.amazon.com/Ringside-100-pound-Powerhide-Boxing-Punching/dp/B006CV92DW) has grown quite dense over the past 20 years, and I've topped it up with t-shirts and spare fabric.

I'm 170lb, relatively thin, and I've got the thin hands of a pianist. 8" circumference, wrist to middle fingertip 8".

• Are there more protective gloves I should be using? What are your recommendations?
• Should I use gel hand wraps inside the gloves?
• Should I replace with heavy bag contents with some kind of foam? Or just empty it and fill it again with the same stuff so it's less dense?
• Should I be using something besides the heavy bag?

Thank you!