Root Canals are not bad at all, they just take forever.
You need to figure out how you react when you go to the dentist, and then adjust appropriately.
I have a great dentist and I'm not nervous at all to go, consciously anyway, but I guess sub-consously I am still nervous because my flood flow slows and my arms FREEZE, so I wear a long-sleeved thick comfy shirt to the dentist even if it's the middle of July. My dentist recently installed massage mats in all his chairs with...heat, which helps too. TeeVees in the Celing with Dish Network too. I had a root canal this summer and all went very smoothly. Couple months later I went back and got my crown, plus the crown for another tooth I had a root canal on. This was worse than the root canals -- it took FOREVER and a day, but only because I was getting 2 crowns made at the same time.
Cost of a root canal at a good dentist with all these goodies: Too much
Being able to go to the dentist and not be a nervous wreck: Priceless
Have you tried a couple different dentists? You really might not have a very good dentist.