For what it's worth, I had a serious kidney infection when I was pregnant with my DD, and it hurt so bad that I was moaning and crying and rolling in bed in the fetal position. I figured there was no way I was going to handle labor if I couldn't handle my kidney hurting. But it was a bad infection, and my kidney was swollen to almost twice the size it should have been - it was ugly.

And when I went into labor.. it hurt less than that kidney infection. I realized that I made it through the pain of the infection without keeling over, and it actually helped me deal with the labor pain. Very much a "if I can do that, then I can do this." I wasn't in active labor very long, but I think I would have coped fine had been I able to labor longer.

I dunno if that would work for you.. using your pain now to aid your pain capacity later, but it was awesome for me.