Hey Mark, you ever try Voltaren? It's a cream for arthritis. You must have it in Canada. You guys are pretty liberal with the drugs. It just became available over the counter here in the states. Pretty effective stuff for me and the wife and of course its bad for the organs just like the plls but it doesn't get into the blood stream as much as the pills. Most of it's effectiveness is in the area applied. Hasn't been tested for shoulders and back but sure works good on my feet and my wifes hands.