Alright, my experience is going to be different than everyone elses, but since you're going for distraction, I figure you're ready for a long story.
After about a year of trying to heal up crunched cartilage in my knee (my fiance at the time sat on my foot, popped the knee joint up and essentially "bruised" the cartilage) I was tired of the pain and everything that went with it (had to quit dancing, so weight gain, depression) so I asked for surgery. Now, I have known since I was 5 that I will die from the use of certain inhalant anesthetics and muscle relaxants. It is hereditary but they found out with me. There are certain specifications that must be followed when I have surgery (first to use the machine that day, none of my trigger drugs, trained anesthesiologist who has been at each of my surgeries). As such, at EVERY SINGLE appointment, and with every doctor, nurse, and assistant I reminded them of this condition, the requirements, and made sure that everyone understood. The surgery was scheduled when I could take a Friday off of teaching and return Monday.
The Wednesday before, the center called to say that since my condition was so complicated, they had to do it at the hospital and so I'd have to reschedule.
I was tired of waiting and didn't know when I'd have another time that would work, so I asked if there was any way I could have the surgery on Friday. They finally decided if I would be willing to do a spinal instead of general anesthesia, they would go ahead on Friday. I said fine, whatever gets this done. Now, the spinal itself didn't hurt, curling into a ball was fine (I have no idea though how that works with pregnant women...) and it was actually pretty cool to get to watch the surgery (saw them scrape some junk off the back of my kneecap) and have that weird dissociative feeling when I saw them move my leg around (rather roughly it seemed) but I couldn't feel it at all.
However, after the surgery the nurse who was watching after me seemed like she was in a rush to get me out of there. I felt great, was eating and drinking and she was pleased with how fast I was going. She kept propping me further and further up, but the last time had an immediate effect. All the blood drained from my face and I knew I was going to puke. My parents saw it immediately too and my Dad was yelling at the nurse to come pop me back down as my mom grabbed something for me to throw up in. I puked everything back up but all the nurse had to say was "whoops, shouldn't have eaten all that!" It wasn't the eating, it was the elevation, I could feel it at the time even before I knew what happened.
Surgery was fine, healed up quite well although I'm never going to be quite the same. However, starting from that day I had a migraine for a month. That had never happened to me before. I had had migraines before, but they were so mild that they always went away when I slept - even a nap in a dark room would take care of them. This was a constant migraine day in and day out - I taught orchestra with it, I woke to it, it was ever present. I had never understood how debilitating migraines can really be, but it was all consuming. Spinal headaches may happen to at least 30% of patients, and the nurse popping me up so quick is what caused it. With the help of my biofeedback and massage therapists, it finally went away, but as they pointed out they were never going to totally disappear, and they would probably come back every time my hormones fluctuated. Right now I'm sucking down my second Extra Large Baja Blast of the evening, because caffiene has proved the most effective method of treating - the migraine medications don't help at all, and while muscle relaxants help, they also make me really sleepy.
So, I cognitively know that not everyone experiences the same symptoms as I did. I also know that even if I had another spinal done, nothing may happen. In fact, since they actively encourage new moms to stay laying down (you're supposed to stay in a prone position for 24 hours to avoid the possibility of the spinal fluid leaking out and causing the headaches, something I didn't know until after) I'm sure it doesn't happen to most mothers, particularly since they aren't supposed to puncture as deep with the epidural. However, I am NEVER having another spinal again. Period. Whether or not I have children, I don't consider that a viable option anymore. That's the long story for why even though I haven't been faced with the actual pain, I can give you such a definite response. ETA: It was more obvious when I was the first responder...I said tough it out.
There you go. Probably more than you wanted to know, but hopefully it was distracting and not too gross or worrisome.
but tell me your stories and opinions.
It just SOUNDED awful! I was a 4 going in, and about a five when they suggested I get it, but I was in no pain yet. But once I got it, they started pumping in the pitocin, and the babies were born within the hour. 
:
Yeah, turns out I don't labor as long as normal women--that was the last contraction. DD was born about 10 minutes later while I stood in the bathroom door
