is an aftermarket shock going to make street riding more comfortable?

i'm not a track person. i just want something to ease the pain of going over uneven pavement, dips in bumpy roads, etc. i've got arthritis in my back and my 30 minute commute is becoming unbearable.

generally speaking no it wont. you can always back out your high and low speed compression damping and maybe even back the spring out a couple turns. you wont be able to corner as fast but it doesn't sound like thats what your doing any way. an after market shock may be more adjustable, however most are designed for better performance while cornering or for drag racing