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Original poster

Helix piercing - is this much pain normal?!

17 replies

HamCob · 16/11/2021 17:24

Just after some advice from those with helix piercings.

Had mine done on Saturday afternoon. Fine Saturday night and Sunday. I must have slept on it Sunday night and ever since it's been throbbing like crazy!
There's no gunk or anything and it's not red or swollen - just throbbing and painful.

Did anyone else experience this? How long does it last. Thanks!

OP posts:
makelovenotpetrol · 16/11/2021 17:31

Yes normal. Do your best to not sleep on it.

icedcoffees · 16/11/2021 17:38

Yes, it'll be sore and tender after sleeping for a good few weeks yet.

Mine probably took between 6-12 months to fully heal to the point where I could sleep on that side with no issues.

Original poster
HamCob · 16/11/2021 17:57

Thanks! I will persevere with it then.
I had it pierced years ago and let it heal over. Had forgotten how painful it was!!

OP posts:

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makelovenotpetrol · 16/11/2021 18:01

Sleeping on it is what makes a helix piercing painful. Nothing else really should unless it becomes infected. So do try not to sleep on it!

LillithTheLynx · 16/11/2021 18:26

They're very prone to getting bumped and sleeping on any new cartilage piercing is an absolute no-no, ow!

As long as it was pierced with appropriate (solid gold or titanium, not a ring) jewellery it should be OK and will stop hurting in a few days, although you'll need to avoid bumping it for several months to avoid the same thing happening again.

Also, buy yourself a travel pillow ASAP and sleep with your ear over the hole... absolute lifesaver for side sleepers!

InkyPinkyParlezVous · 16/11/2021 18:28

Had mine done in the summer and it's still sometimes nippy after sleeping on it.

Original poster
HamCob · 16/11/2021 18:51

Oh goodness I hadn't realised that sleeping on it would be so painful. I originally wanted both sides doing but luckily they said no for exactly that reason Blush
I just have a silver stud not a hoop. I've been really careful about cleaning it etc so hopefully if I try really hard to stay on one side tonight it will calm down a bit (doesn't help that I'm a side sleeper! 😫)

OP posts:
InkyPinkyParlezVous · 16/11/2021 19:19

Superdrug do an advanced healing solution for piercings (not the normal stuff). Really recommend it, it's fab. I managed to change my helix at 8 weeks with no pain or reaction.

FindingMeno · 16/11/2021 19:24

I found my helix was tender to sleep on for months.
After 30+ years it still plays up sometimes if I wear the wrong type of stud/ ring to sleep.

SockFluffInTheBath · 16/11/2021 19:29

When you say a silver stud do you mean a normal earring stud (done with a gun) or a labret (flat back) and is it sterling silver? Silver isn’t good for new piercings, maybe ask your piercer how soon they can swap it for a titanium piece. Do your best to not sleep on it, and bathing in salt water should help it.

LillithTheLynx · 16/11/2021 19:42

@HamCob

Oh goodness I hadn't realised that sleeping on it would be so painful. I originally wanted both sides doing but luckily they said no for exactly that reason Blush I just have a silver stud not a hoop. I've been really careful about cleaning it etc so hopefully if I try really hard to stay on one side tonight it will calm down a bit (doesn't help that I'm a side sleeper! 😫)
You poor thing - it'll feel better soon!

Sorry for the questions, but do you mean silver coloured titanium or silver the metal? And is it a labret or a butterfly back?

If you went to a decent piercer hopefully it will be the labret/titanium - if not, I highly recommend going to see someone else to get it swapped out, or it might not heal properly.

For cleaning, I've found that the best thing to do is to leave fresh piercings alone as much as possible, and use saline sprays (Neilmed is a good brand) and a gentle trickle of clean water in the shower. Soaking it in a mug of warm water with a little pinch of salt will probably be quite soothing for tonight!

LillithTheLynx · 16/11/2021 19:43

@SockFluffInTheBath

When you say a silver stud do you mean a normal earring stud (done with a gun) or a labret (flat back) and is it sterling silver? Silver isn’t good for new piercings, maybe ask your piercer how soon they can swap it for a titanium piece. Do your best to not sleep on it, and bathing in salt water should help it.
Sorry for the Xpost!
makelovenotpetrol · 16/11/2021 20:05

@InkyPinkyParlezVous

Superdrug do an advanced healing solution for piercings (not the normal stuff). Really recommend it, it's fab. I managed to change my helix at 8 weeks with no pain or reaction.
Oh - do you have a link for it ? I'd be interested in seeing whats in it as I've been looking for something like this.
SockFluffInTheBath · 16/11/2021 20:18

@LillithTheLynx psychic link up Grin

LifesABotch · 16/11/2021 20:23

Yes, normal, I had no idea either 😬. Hate to say it, but mine took easily 2 years before it was non-painful and sometimes still flares up, years later, due to sleeping on it! I do love it, despite all this, and hopefully yours will be less problematic Glitterball

LifesABotch · 16/11/2021 20:24

Oh, and has been worse since start of pandemic due to catching it with masks!

LillithTheLynx · 16/11/2021 21:36

[quote SockFluffInTheBath]@LillithTheLynx psychic link up Grin[/quote]
I thought I'd double-posted Grin

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