Is root canal treatment really painful?

I went for a dental check-up and was told that my cavity is deep and I might need a root canal. I'm so scared and worried.

I've been afraid of dentists since I was little, so just hearing the words 'root canal' scares me...

I am even more confused because some people around me say it doesn't hurt as much as they expected because the anesthesia works better than before, while others say they had a hard time with throbbing pain for a few days after the treatment.

Has anyone had root canal treatment?

How severe was the pain during treatment?

I wonder if the anesthetic injection hurt the most.

How many days did the pain last after treatment?

Was daily life or eating possible immediately?

Whether it was better than expected, or if it was really hard

Also, I’ve heard that delaying root canal treatment can lead to more extensive treatment or even extraction. Have you actually seen any cases like that?

I have to schedule a treatment appointment soon and I'm so nervous, so I'd like to hear some real-life experiences.🙏