I am in the same boat but i dont get the shots yet, still trying to control the arthitis with nsaids. the arthritis hit me when i was about 20, now i have the grip of a 70y/o even though i am half that age.
unfortunately for me, i am allergic to aspirin and aspirin products...
kinda wipes out the nsaids for me ( i did try celebrex for a while, but it did some bad things to me )