Contraceptive Implant - Very painful. Is this normal?

[PavlovtheCat]

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.

[Jcroteau]

hi! Having same issue- did you go back to the doctor everyone comments the same thing but I can’t find any resolution comment! 😅 what ended up happening? It’s so painful and doesn’t seem normal

[PenCreed]

Quick update so that other people who find this thread don't just get problems! I went back to the clinic and had it checked - apparently it was in properly but they removed it for me anyway. It's now in my other arm and both my arms feel normal apart from a little sting round the insertion/removal site. So if you have an implant and it still hurts after two weeks, go back and get the clinic to sort it for you.

[PenCreed]

I know this is an old thread, but I was hoping someone on it might come back for some reassurance! I had my implant replaced ten days ago and have had pain in my arm on certain movements ever since - I don't remember having this issue previously (this is my third implant). I do a martial art and have had to miss classes because it hurts so much when I punch. Can anyone tell me if this is going to stop soon? Otherwise I'm going to have to get rid of it and find some other method of contraception. It's so frustrating, previously it's been great for me but I need to exercise!

[Tinkabell12]

Hello friends,

I just wanted to add to this thread as I was shocked that this was the only place I could find honest and helpful information about the impacts of the implant.

I got mine inserted on Monday, the actual process was completely painless apart from the slight stinging of the anaesthetic.

4 days on and I still have severe shooting pains (like the stabbing, it feeling like it’s trying to poke out kind of feeling people here have described. I can’t put my hand behind my back without getting such a sharp pain. I consider myself to have prettt high pain tolerance so if I’m honest it’s a quite unbearable pain.

Im going to book an emergency appointment with my clinic tomorrow to get it looked at but worried they will just say ‘give it a week’. Not sure if I could take that to be honest.

What is most frustrating is that this side effect wasn’t mentioned at all and isn’t noted on any information sites, however it must be a pretty common thing.

I was reassured by these posts that this problem isn’t unique to me and my arm isn’t about to fall off ahah.

Good luck to all that brave the implant. All our options are quite awful to be honest and it doesn’t seem very fair.

[Auts23]

I had my 3rd implant done a year back and had pain. It didnt come all the time but a year on it has been changed due to it having hit a merve or a vein. You could feel an sometimes see a ridged line running across at a diaganol. It was the first time they placed underneath the arm away from muscle, due to new research that typically suggested it less likely to hit any veins 😂 not an issue for health I was told...but not nice

[liciababy19]

Please help!
I got the implant about 2 1/2 weeks ago. The procedure was easy and painless. I bled imidiately after getting the implant (within the same hour). I bled for 2-3days and that’s it’s so far. My BIGGEST concern is the fact that I am still bruised.. also I have noticed that one of my viens (on both arms) but especially in the arm which my implant is in occasionally become tight. The best way I can describe it.. it feels like a tight string from my elbow and I can trace it down through my forearm. I went back to my clinic because I was concerned and the doctor told me my implant was intact and that it was normal for my arm to be sore. A nurse told me that your viens pop if you are hydrated... which may explain why it comes and goes (I have noticed it’s not tight when I haven’t had much water)

However a nurse friend of my mentioned a major vein connected to my heart that could possible be inflamed..

So can anyone help me? Should I go to a doctor?
There is slight aching in my arm and painin my vien (especially when i touch it) when it is tight. I just don’t want it to be a blood clot or something severe that can be taken care of right now while it’s fresh... or if I’m just overthinking.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks! God bless y’all.

[be89]

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

[Nikkimurr]

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....

[roastandyorkies]

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...

[sonsoni]

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.

[Mariemaz]

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.

[AngieAng1186]

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

[Mam1587]

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.

[maryrvls]

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

[jemmaAddison1]

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

[Marlenevelaz]

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?

[Kearstyn]

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?

[honestlyhelen]

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

[Oicarden]

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.

[BethLouisee1994]

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?

[Samantha7726]

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.

[cheepcheepchoconora]

perfect :)

[PavlovtheCat]

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!

[cheepcheepchoconora]

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

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

[PavlovtheCat]

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? !