I have had both. Epidural with my first 2 and spinal with the 3rd also scheduled c section. I would say my spinal was so much better. My 2nd Epidural they forgot and left it in my back for over 24 hrs after birth, and that was painful. All depends on you anesthesiologist and thier skill level. I'm guessing you got one that just wasn't very good this time.
I had both with my daughter; an epidural and then a spinal when the epidural stopped working. Both were relatively painless, but the spinal made me incredibly nauseated.
I had an epidural with my first and a spinal with my second. There’s for sure a difference. I didn’t feel ANYTHING with my second, not even any pressure. I had a scheduled c section though and that’s the numbing of choice for that.