My SSEP was easy, no big deal at all. No needles for me either....They offered me a drug for the procedure, which I accepted, since I didn't know what to expect. (Can't remember what they gave me, maybe Vicodin?) As it turned out, the drug didn't kick in at all until after the procedure, on the drive home, but it didn't matter anyway 'cos I really didn't need it.

Good luck!