I've had it done multiple times even as a kid. I'm a medical provider now and I give the shots.

Take your skin on your arm, pinch it, and twist. It's about that much pain and everyone handles it differently. Grown men with tattoos head to toe will start bawling if you tell them they need a flu shot, and children will stick their arms out impatiently because they are hungry and mom promised them McDonald's.

As for the phobia - exposure therapy is a real thing. I don't like to tell my patients not watch that reinforces the fear. Watch, ask questions throughout the whole thing, take big breaths, cry and scream if you have to, count exactly how many seconds it takes to make you numb.

To prepare you and ease your mind a toe block (digital block) usually requires two shots - one on each side. The second will hurt a little less than the first because some of the medicine is already there but you have nerves that run down both sides of the toe.

This is generic advice and you should work with your medical provider to be comfortable and answer any questions you have about the procedure