I've had 3, the most recent was today at 4pm, and, with the exception of relatively minor discomfort at the injection site, I've had really no pain at all. I would NEVER do it without sedation, ever! The sedation that I have is really easy. I go in, lay down on the table, they put a syringe into my IV, and off I go to sleep. Procedure takes about 30-40 minutes and I usually wake up withing 15 minutes of the end of the procedure. Today, I woke up, ate some crackers and had some ginger ale and was immediately ready to leave. I was groggy for an hour or so, but other than that, I'm feeling pretty good. Legs are still warm, a good sign, and no pain in the RSD leg at all at the moment.

I can't imagine why you've had such horrible experiences with them, but maybe you want to talk to a different doc or something? I do highly recommend the sedation, though, just in case it has something to do with the way your brain is responding to experience as a whole.