Since I posted above, the pain in my shoulder has gotten out of control. The new doctor, a orthopedist (bone doctor), wants me to use cortisone. Anybody have any experience with cortisone? I thought that was for short term treatment only, but they seem to be doing a huge business with it at both my rheumatologist and the orthopedist. For two years now, the physical therapists thought it was frozen shoulder, but the bone specialist says it's not that, but instead "just" osteoarthritis. I am very reluctant to start cortisone without an MRI. The bone doctor is diagnosing without an MRI. I asked him how he could say it is not frozen shoulder without an MRI, since xrays do not show soft tissue. He said he can just tell. Sounded arrogant to me. Im going to go to a pain clinic where they will give me a medical marijuana card for Arizona. I know it will be a huge learning curve for choosing what medical marijuana products are right for me. Im thinking that CBD cream would be best for my shoulder. I will probably use that in combination with pain pills. Sarah Sweets, what was your shoulder diagnosis? Did you ever use cortisone? What shoulder surgery did you have? What has proved to be your best combination of treatments.