Just wanted to give you my experience.
I had EMCS in 2011 (induced due to slow growth of baby and loss of fluid). I had a uterine tear and a placenta abruption. Recovery was slow for the first 72 hours and in hospital for a week - mainly because DS was poorly.
I had an ELCS just 3 weeks ago. Like you I was nervous about the spinal. I walked downto theatre shaking from head to toe! The theatre team were fantastic. they are well versed in nervous patients!
They prep you with a canula, monitors etc, etc and then the spinal. They put a local in first (flu jab type sting - doesn't hurt one bit) then they wait a few seconds or so and start with the spinal. All I felt was pushing -no pain at all. You will feel a warm sensation down your legs then they will go heavy. it isn't actually unpleasant.
You lie down and the spinal takes a few minutes to work. Meanwhile they natter and chat ( I had a chatty, jokey lot!) whilst the anaethetist pricks you with a needle to ensure it is working. You will feel the needle up to chest height but no actual sting of it (IYKWIM) and comapre it on the arm.
They put the catheter into your bladder AFTER the spinal has taken effect. The curtain goes up and before you know it, they would have started. i felt no cut, no pian, no tugging - nothing!
My DD was born at 36 wks and was screaming before fully out! Apgar score of 10 (I had steroids prior because it was an ELCS brought forward due to similar problems with first pregnancy only no tear or abruption).
Recovery was a LOT better than my EMCS. I was out of bed quicker, less pain (only took 3 does of tramadol and paracetamol for five days) and if it hadn't of been for high BP on the day I was expecting to go home (I believe it went up due to anxiousness of going home - I was eager to get out!) I would have been out after 2 days and 2 nights but stayed an extra night.
20 days on, I am driving (approved by insurance company), walking everywhere, bending and lifting WITHIN moderation and the beauty of a CS is that they 'sunction out' a lot so bleeding taild off to nearly nothing 10 days ago.
If I was to do it again, I would definitely choose ELCS. It was calm, peaceful and brilliant in terms of recovery. As it is, we can't have anymore due to a thin and weak uterus. Told after the ELCS that I would have to have an ELCS - NO choice of a VBAC, not that I would - at 32-34 weeks. Luckily my DD was our final child but still didn't make the news any easier.