Contractions but not labor

I’m 35 weeks. Yesterday I was in so much pain, having contractions. They moved from 5-7 minutes apart to 2-5 minutes apart, 45 seconds to 1 minute long and this went on for two hours before we went to the hospital thinking for sure it’s pre term labor. Well everything checked out ok with me and the baby. They said I’m far enough along not to try to stop labor. BUT after being checked 2x I didn’t progress at all from 1 cm and was sent home still having contractions. Strong enough to be in pain but not to dilate my cervix apparently. I’ve had two babies before natural and I know what labor feels like. So I thought! This is so confusing. Apparently this could go on for weeks. No need to unless my water breaks or something else changes. 😲 it would be like being in labor for weeks! WTF