I found the s&s more violent than painful (not sure which is worse) but was ok once I got over the shock of what the midwife had just done! I had been in labour 24 hrs then contractions stopped but started up again after the s and s. Mind you I had my one and only accupuncture session the day that labour started but given that I was 41+5 it was bound to start anyway really!
Having my time again, I would do absolutely nothing but wait for bubs...