How does BR compare to a C-Section?

Hello you mommas out there, my surgery is FIVE WEEKS away and I am super excited. I think I am probably underestimating the pain because I figure I've given birth twice, once the old fashioned way (with 3 hours of pushing, lots of cutting and stitches, etc) and once with a C-section so I figure this can't be worse than that. How does a BR compare to a C-section? I am old by the way, 39, so I am probably not going to recover as fast as you 20somethings. LOL. I exercise and try to eat healthy and so hopefully that will help my recovery as well. So tell me, what am I in for?