I think I may be going the same route, Catrin. I've had hip pain on and off for almost 2 years. I can pinpoint the start to when I started running, but also, about a year after I stopped teaching. I used to stand up almost all day and move around, now, as a student and a psychotherapy intern, all I do is sit almost all day long and it just stiffens me up. The lower back has been an issue on and off, too. If anything, I am more active than ever. There are times when it diminishes, but something is going on.
And yes, my rheumatologist mentioned the injection within the same breath as stating "it's probably arthritis," when I went to see him about this over a year ago. He did not push drugs at all when he was treating me for fibromyalgia. In fact, he was very open to alternative treatments. Getting that injection is no picnic, from what I have heard. I guess it's time to go back and get a PT referral; there aren't a lot of mechanical therapists around here, but I found one that is not too far.