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General health

Contraceptive Implant - Very painful. Is this normal?

31 replies

PavlovtheCat · 07/05/2011 09:45

I can't find a topic on contraception so apologies if not in the right place ladies.

I have had implanon before, no problems. Can't remember whether it hurt or not but no recollection of anything significant.

On thursday I had the contraceptive implant put in, not implanon, the other one (can't remember then name offhand 'fluxo something?'). It went in fine, the nurse said I would bruise, and once it was done she said she could see that I was starting to bruise already, likely be quite a nasty bruised area, so expected some swelling. I know the first time it bruised much less than I thought.

The implant is quite near the surface. Mostly, this does not surprise me, I know it can be felt and if i flexed my arm the first time i had it, i could could just see the outline of it.

However, at the end of the implant nearest the insertion site, it stings, like it is digging into the skin, it hurts/stings to move my arm much, unless the bandage is on, then for some reason it does not hurt as much but still smarts. Arm is quite swollen around the area of insertion. I expected this to have reduced a little by now.

But what bothers me the most is that as well as it being very painful, the end of the implant is sticking out quite a lot, it seems like it is trying to push itself back out of the skin, but obviously not able to do so as missing the insertion site.

Is this normal? I am sure this did not happen before, does it just need some time to settle down, wait for swelling to go down, or should it not be trying to poke back out through the skin. Bit worried it was not put in correctly.

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PavlovtheCat · 07/05/2011 12:41
Grin
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lubeybooby · 07/05/2011 12:48

I had nexplanon a few weeks ago (the one rod matchstick thing)

I had bruising but just where blood leaked under the skin from insertion, not from skin trauma if you see what I mean. I didn't have any swelling but I was told to keep a tubigrip type bandage and the dressing on it for a few days.

Anyway I didn't have any pain so I think yours needs looking at

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PavlovtheCat · 07/05/2011 13:07

nexplanon, thats the one (nothing like what I remembered!).

The pain is localised, in fact it is right where on end is 'digging in'. I will give it til monday i guess, unless it becomes horrendously painful before then, and go back to see same person to check it. Or else it would have to be a trip to A&E wont it? and they will just remove it as they won't know a thing about it, i am sure.

Thanks for replying, as I said, like you I don't recall it being anything other than a bit tender for a couple of days last time.

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BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 07/05/2011 17:56

It shouldn't be that painful. It sounds both badly inserted and possibly infected..

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PavlovtheCat · 07/05/2011 20:09

pain has eased a bit, now just smarts from time to time if i 'stretch' the arm in the wrong way. But it clearly is closer to the surface on one end of the implant than the other. I dont think it is infected, the pain is more localised in the place it digs on (or out!), my arm is however black, blue, purple and now a little yellow! (a good sign yes?!).

I shall give it til monday and then get it checked just to be sure, would rather not get pregnant seeing as that is the reason for being on it! I now feel a little nervous about it now, so til i talk to nurse DH is on bread and water! (Wink he is already for a few days!)

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cheepcheepchoconora · 07/05/2011 20:15

I had nexplanon put in 2 months ago... I managed to feel a stingy type sensation - every time I poked it to see how it was healing! Grin also at the insertion end... have you been endlessly poking it like me perchance? if its any help I stopped feeling it at all about 5 days after insertion? or sooner if I stopped poking of course Wink

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PavlovtheCat · 07/05/2011 20:21

cheepcheep well, i have been poking it a bit, but only to see if that makes it hurt more (it does!) it was already hurting before that, as soon as I took the bandage off it was like it had been holding it all in...but I have now stopped poking it. It smarts, yes. Glad to hear it stopped hurting after 5 days. And I take it you are not pregnant? !

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cheepcheepchoconora · 07/05/2011 20:42

nope - been in 2 months and as far as I am aware not pregnant Grin also only had 3 days of spotting the whole time... I heart my implant Wink

I also LOVE freaking DH out by fiddling until you can see the outline- he thinks I have a mini alien or something in there I think Grin

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PavlovtheCat · 07/05/2011 20:44

oh yes I like that too, the whole cyber woman thing, it is great to see peoples faces when I show them it, my friends are all a bit bothered by it i think!

Last time i had it, I had NO periods for two years, had it taken out to try for DC2 conceived 4 weeks later. Lovely!

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cheepcheepchoconora · 07/05/2011 21:06

perfect :)

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Samantha7726 · 18/01/2013 19:59

Hi I know this is an old thread but I can't find any other advice, I'm having the exact same pain and can't lift my arm very high, I've been to a & e and they have told me its the end of the implant scraping on the insertion site, I just wanted to know how long your pain lasted? I'm on my third day now and can't stand it.

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BethLouisee1994 · 22/01/2013 21:24

I am 18 and in the exact same situation, except I've only had mine fitted a day! I admit that I have a low pain threshold and almost cried with the local anaesthetic. But my arm bruised and swelled really badly within an hour of having it done and it has had me in complete agony. I can't move my arm much without feeling like the implant is stabbing through my skin and the swelling is terrible. I'm having a lot of trouble sleeping too with it hurting whenever I move.

Also, the nurse never put any sort of arm-covering bandage on it, just two thin plaster tapes and a slightly larger plaster over the top of them. My clothes were irritating the plasters so I applied a bandage myself and the pain eased a little but still it returns when I move my arm.

Was applying a bandage the right thing to do with not already having one supplied by the nurse? Will it improve the bruising and swelling? How long will the pain last for?

Any advice will do. I've only had it fitted a day and already I'm tired of all of the problems its causing. Please help?

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Oicarden · 28/01/2016 22:09

Hey Beth saw your post and just thought I'd let you know I had a new implant put in on Monday after my last one had ran out. My arm was quite painful to move and definitely to touch for the first two days. It has eased now but still twinges at times. I would take some paracetamol for the pain (unless your allergic or any other reasons)

I also only had steri strips and a dressing plaster covering my cut which is perfectly fine.

Hope this helps.

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honestlyhelen · 04/02/2016 10:12

Hi All,

I know this is an old thread but thought i would piggyback on it! I had my implant changed for the first time yesterday, which went relatively smoothly, i was fine when i woke up this morning but all of a sudden i've been getting horrendous dizzy spells, like i might pass out (although I haven't thankfully!) Have anyone else experienced this?

It could of course be completely unrelated and it's the same implant i've had replaced so my body shoudl be used to the hormone!

Thanks!

Helen x

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Kearstyn · 11/03/2016 19:21

Im having the same issues. I just got mine done 3 days ago. Also mine is placed at an angle is that ok? Or should i have my doctor look at it?

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Marlenevelaz · 16/03/2016 04:28

I have a question about the implant, I've having mine done tomorrow and I'm afraid. I'm obviously searching pictures of the bruising and feeling quite worried about not being able to use your arm. What are the pros and cons? Would you gals recommend it?

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jemmaAddison1 · 13/05/2016 22:43

I had mine fitted on Wednesday yes it bruised but not alot but am still getting pain round the insertion site been told it will settle down after a week as it all nitting together I had no problems with pain after the first day

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maryrvls · 06/06/2016 02:43

I had mine put inserted in April I had horrible bruising and pain. An to this day it's still trying to poke out of my skin

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Mam1587 · 23/07/2016 23:33

Hello! Sorry to also jump onto this thread, but had my implant (nexplanon) replaced several months back. It felt different from the first time, also felt like one end was nearer to the skin than the other but nothing overly concerning and all seemed normal after some days (although it always felt nearer to the skin than he first). Now out of nowhere there's swelling, and slight itchiness around the end closer to the skin. Has anyone else experienced problems so long after having the implant put in? Only noticed tonight.

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AngieAng1186 · 20/09/2016 04:07

Just got the implant yesterday and my arm stings like a b**ch when i move it. Judging from this feed it looks like i am not the only 1

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Mariemaz · 11/10/2016 11:38

Hi @Angieang1186 I got mine replaced on Friday must be the 4th time I've had it in now. I've never had a problem before. But since I got it put in I've felt very sharp stabbing pains like it's poking out or hitting a nerve very painful. After having good read many posts on this worryingly some experienced it seems several months after having it in. I went to the clinic where I got it put in yesterday and the nursery said if it still hurts in 2 weeks come back. Saying goes there's no bruising swelling or bleeding the sharp pain is coming from the inside and should stop in 2 weeks lol.

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sonsoni · 11/11/2017 19:22

I have had one fitted a week ago and it is still painful... A bit cross to see so many messages of pain whilst I wasn't told anything about it.

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roastandyorkies · 12/11/2017 17:47

I'm on my fourth implant. Others have been fine but this time the dr (a different one from usual) insisted on putting it further back round my arm and it's really irritated me since which previous ones never did...

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Nikkimurr · 13/12/2017 07:15

I had mine fitted Friday and it is causing me so much pain that I can't actually sleep. The pain is exactly the same as what is being described - as if its piercing through the skin at the insistion site and when I move in bed it stings like a m*fu@er. I'm now walking around as if i have a zombie arm - can't bloody move it. Don't need birth control with this look! In all seriousness I'm going to get it taken out as having this pain for 5 days is ridiculous....

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be89 · 10/05/2018 19:54

Hi I had the implant in on Tuesday got told to take bandage of after 48 hours what I have done but it really stings unless I put pressure on it with a new bandage is this normal

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