I don't really know what to say. I've had 3 c-sections, with 1 being a vertical incision (had to get Cole out in a super-hurry) and 2 being the standard horizontal incisions.
Yes, they hurt. I felt lots of burning at times, and I think the worst of the pain came about 2-3 weeks after the surgery as everything was healing up.
But with that said, I have a high pain tolerance. Pain isn't anything new, and I don't let it stop me. I lifted, carried, and held all my babies. Even with the third, I was still lifting the other two, and getting down on the floor and back up again.
I moved slower, and I took care when lowering myself down and getting back up (whether it be to sit or lie down), but that was about it.
One thing that many docs don't tell you is that you may leak serum (bloody/watery discharge) from your incision. It's no big deal, but it can get oogy especially since it's right about the waist of your panties. I bought panty liners and would slap one over the incision to help. Of course, since I had that MRSA in the incision after Cole was born, I spent a year leaking icky stuff.
I think people react differently. Some people follow all the post-surgery rules, others, such as myself, do not. lol
After Cole, I pretty much had a year's supply of Percocet to help me through (remember the MRSA and allergic reaction to the internal sutures thus they all popped out through my skin
). After Carson, I had 10 Lortab 7.5s to see me through. After Cooper, I had 6 Darvocet and was told to use them wisely. harharhar. I cut them in half and used them only as needed, but I live off 800 mb Ibuprofen anyway, so I pretty much stuck to that. 3 weeks after Cooper was born, I was pushing a jogging stroller and walking 3 miles a day.
My biggest advice, I suppose, is to stay on your Ibuprofen regimen every 6 hours. Keep the pain at bay without allowing it to take hold.
As far as hosptial stays go, I stayed 4 days with each one. That was the hardest part as I was away from Cole and then Cole and Carson.