Mine were quite painful too

They can be regular but unlike real contractions they don't have that ebb and peak thing like real contractions and they will slow down or stop.

In the last weeks of my last PG every night they would start up and after sitting on the couch thinking this could be it, I'd give up and go to bed and wake up in the morning still PG

Very frustrating and I'm really hoping it's not the same this time but as I'm already getting them most days then I think I'm in for it again!