I had a generally positive experience with steroid injections. I had them done at California Pacific Medical Center. The first one didn't help much, but I asked my doc if I could try a second one -- and that one really has helped. Before, my back had begun to seize up because the constant bad limp was throwing it out of kilter. The second shot reduced the pain so much that the limp was much less, if at all. It also has enabled me to get a bit more exercise, including using gym machines on leg/hip muscles, which I'm sure will help me recover from my surgery scheduled 12/13. I got the shot a month ago, and only now can I begin to feel it starting to wear off.
If anyone is doing this in the SF area, I *highly* recommend Dr. Mall or Maars, something like that, in the Cal Pacific Med radiology dept. His approach was very different than with my first shot -- much less painful as well as much more effective. He has done thousands of these injections.