Bobert, I had surgery on my finger. It wasn't as involved or invasive as your surgery will be.

They will have to hold your hand still, probably involving straps or a vice-like thing. None of this hurts, but you can't move it. You shouldn't really move ANYthing, and you'll likely get restless after a while.

If they use a tourniquet and the nerve block wears off before the tourniquet comes off, it's going to hurt. If feels like a limb waking up from being asleep x 10, but it's temporary and gets better when they take the thing off.

Your choice on the drugs. It depend on whether the cons(which can last for a while after the surgery) outweigh the pros (less pain, and less anxiety for both you and the surgeon).

Good luck with it all!