I had 3 different spinal blocks(shots) with steroids a couple of years ago for arithritis in lumbar area. Was done in the hospital as out patient and you are numbed prior to the shots. First shot helped a lot, second maybe a little, and couldn't tell a difference after the 3rd. After 3 months they started talking about redoing them again, so I found an excellent neurologist and chose surgery. Would do that again - two lumbar laminectomies, arithritic bone spurs removed, and part of a ligament. Still have some pain if I sit too long without moving around, but it is Nothing like before!