I've had the birth control implanon in my arm for about 3-4 months and everything has been great except recently I've been getting pains. I went to my doctors and she reassured me it was okay because I wasn't swollen or red... but that seems strange to me, because the day after the visit I noticed its bruised slightly where the rod is. There is still pain and sometimes it goes to my hand as well. I am VERY cautious about these minor things after having complications with every other birth control. Has anyone else experienced this??
Pain in arm due to implanon?
Question posted by ap13 on 26 Jan 2013
Last updated on 11 May 2022
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30 Answers Page 2
I’ve had mine for a full year and just today I noticed I can’t feel the other end of it and where the other end should be is sharp pain. (Rated at 6-7) and it’s really warm to touch now. I notice also that it’s moved at least a cm or more from where it used to be.
OMG I just googled my symptom and I’m so surprised that so many other women are having the same problem as I. My nexplanon aches and I’m not sure why. It aches at the most random times but never for an extremely long time. My hair is different. Lol it gets greasy so easily now as well. I’ve been natural all my life and it seems like my hair never feels clean. My skin has gone crazy and I’ve NEVER had skin issues. It’s ok. I don’t bleed more ore less and it’s not the iud so I’m not sure if I will change my bc method yet
Well: I’ve not, got any answers
I’ve had this nexplanon since July 17,
I’ve had many symptoms
: first night I had terrible dreams!! Warped
: bleeding non stop for about 2-3 months
: I’ve noticed my hair has got thinner, & goes greasy the second day after being washed, I don’t use products after washing. (Never in my life have I had greasy hair)
: skin has had moments where I’ve been a little spotty round mouth
: I’ve had a few headaches prob, once a month
: aches in the inserted arm it’s a dull aches all the way to my hand. It last from 1hr to maybe the next day
These symptoms can’t be right
I’m not one to moan... and I was on mini pill before this & it was fine can’t remember any trouble
I will be getting it removed I’m just lazy
And because the symptoms come and go ... i kinda just live with it
But I think I best get it removed and go back on mini pill
I had mine a week and it's still tender feels like I have a splinter in my arm and it's really visible under the skin not sure if I'm going to keep it in or not
I've had the implanon for about 4/5 months... my arm just recently started hurting as well. Same as you, I went to the doctor and they told me not to worry but im really cautious when it comes to anything inserted in my body. If the pain persists I'm getting this thing taken out.
I had my implanon in for just over 3yrs but had it taken out about a year ago and didn't get another put in. Recently I have been getting pains down the inside of my arm and in my bicep where the implant use to be, I'm not sure if it is related to the implant or not, but I feel like it would make sense. Has anyone had this before?
I am currently having the same problem it feels like the rod is digging in to tissue in the arm and is quit painful expecally at night I also get extremely painful breaths as well this is my 2year with it in but iv never seem right since I got it in
I've been having that issue as well. I got it because I didn't want to take a pill, and almost everything else people in my family have gotten pregnant on. I don't want another kid for a few years so I thought this was a good option. But it defiantly hurts almost every day by
Y arm movements. I want the pain to stop but I don't want it removed because I'll have a more likely chance of becoming pregnant.
I've had the implant for about 2 years now and only in the last 6 months I've been getting pain in my arm. I've not been to the gym for ages but I went tonight and now I can't sleep because I can feel it more than normal . I feel like my mood swings are awful and it's affected my relationships . I can't get through a date without being irritated by the poor bloke. I'm also worried it's affecting my weight but it's hard to tell since I've only just started a new holiday diet . Going to get it removed I just need to find the time and dreading the removal process
I had the nexplanon in for 3yrs. I didn't have a problem until I had another one put in. I had really bad pain that I couldn't move my arm any way cause it would hurt. They took it out and I just got another one in and I feel sharp pain here and there. Im gonna call my Dr on Monday to see if something is wrong.
I've had my implant since august 2016 feel like my mood swings have been crazy since I've been on it and and recently started getting nervy pains up and down my arm, my implant has made me bleed almost constantly since I had put it in and I feel like this pain is the final straw. It's not super painful but like some of you have said it's uncomfortable and definitely coming from the implant site and running down the my index finger, not what I signed up for at all
This is more a question than answer, I had very little side effects the first time I got the implanon in in 2014, I just got it removed and replaced, I've had mild to severe nervy pain down my left arm from the site and into my hand, I feel very exhausted and things are bothering me more than usual, in fairly sure it's to do with the implant, does anyone have this pain? Does it wear off? It's bad enough to want it removed
I just got mine 3days ago and curiosity got the best of me! i wanted to know what size it was by using my finger and thumb to lightly pinch at it but :( I think i may have made it move a tad from the incision site. I wonder if it is shallower under my skin now and less effective. I have a pain like I hit my funny bone but the side of my wrist hurt too. I think if I leave it alone it may be ok or its against a nerve! Oh no I wonder if I have ruined my birth control :( not fair!
I have this issue going on my arm feels like I was grabbed wrong or even punched in . I am tired as crap all the time it seems I can do normal stuff just when I stop I fall sleep quite fast and I never feel rested. I wake up a lot. My arm has always had issues with the tingling I got into a wreck like 6 years ago wasn’t bad but pinched a nerve and haven’t ever thought about trying to fix it. I just don’t feel like myself. I don’t wanna have sex I have gained about 30 lbs since putting it in my arms maybe 6 months ago idk what to do at this point I’m 33 was in good health now I feel like an old worm out person... thinking of taking b12 shots again. Did anyone find an answer about the hurting arm???
I have the nexplanon implant which I've had since June this year I am experiencing a sharp stabbing type pain when ever I move my arm a certain way this is my second one a never had any issues with the last would like to also know what I should do
I got this about a week ago and i'm also experiencing sharp pains up my arm, it's still terribly bruised. i'm hoping it will go away..
I got my implant June 2015 and about 6 months after I lost range of motion in my arm because if I move it a certain way there's pain. I've tried researching this but to no avail, nexplanon does not list this as a possible side effect on their site. I recently had an x ray on my back so I had the doctor add in the shoulder and arm to rule out injury, so I'm definitely attributing this sudden onset to the implant. You guys are the first time I've found people saying they were experiencing this.
I had my 2nd implant removed when it expired and had my 3rd one placed last week. This is the first time I have experienced the pain that you are referring to. I have a lot of bruising around the implant itself and then it's red and tender below the site. This morning, the pain started radiating toward my hand. Has anyone experienced this? It's not swollen, just red. But I am concerned because the pain is moving down my arm.
Hi, I’ve have mine for two year and this is my first time having it and today I started getting very sharp pains every time I moved my arm and hurt so bad when I moved it that I had to go home from work an hour early! I’m seeing my doctor Monday about it!
I know I am responding to this thread well after it was posted, but I had my implant placed on January 23, 2015 and a few months into having it, (well after the injection site had healed) I started getting aching pains right around the implant. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does it lasts a while (hours - a day or so). It is quite a serious ache, just like a muscle ache you might get, but I can tell that this is definitely coming from the implant. It is definitely very annoying as well as painful. On days that this happens, I just try to rest my arm and use it sparingly. The poster who said that the muscle pulling at the scar tissue that has formed around the implant (although I can't feel any scar tissue, and can feel the implant itself quite easily under my skin) is what causes the aching pains is most likely correct as that completely makes sense.
And if this is the case then really this is not a major (ie-health threatening) effect and may be able to be tolerated if the benefits of having the implant outweighs the bad for any particular user.
Another major side effect I have had is the complete absence of my period (February was the last time I had one at all, and it is now almost July). Most women do not like this particular side effect and have had the implant removed because of it. In my case, this is one major reason WHY I opted for the implant over pills, etc. I will put up with the aching because of the (in my opinion) wonderful side effect of no longer having my period!
Hi there
I have just found your post and you are describing exactly what I am experiencing at the moment, I am sue to go back to the doctors next week for a check up after having the implant in for 6 weeks but was very close to calling this afternoon for an appointment!
Just wondered how you'd got on over the last couple of months? Has the pain stopped now?
I hope you don't mind one last question! You mention that you had the implant in Jan and no periods since Feb but did you have a period after the implant? I'm living in hope that I won't have a period again now but at the moment I haven't seen any benefits from going through the blummin procedure!!
X
Hi ive had my implant in my arm for nearly 2 years and I still get pain and it's very tender all the time, when I first got mine I didn't have a period for 6 months then after that I got them every 2 months then and for lasting only 2 days and very very light,
I would like to say that I had the implanon for 3 years from 2013 to 2016 I barely if ever had my period. I did have a slight weight gain(I won't know for sure bc I like food) my sex drive is weak... like I have to work for it, my hormones aren't really there.. I believe when I had it back then and it healed it would bc like muscle tenderness my arm is fine just around the rod is tender but I have watched it. Its a pattern for me usually around th end of the month. (Most months)
And I had maybe a period every 6 month's very light almost nothing sometimes just spotting.
Now I have the nexplanon and I got it put on in 2016 and no period here what's so ever thank God which is awesome... I do think around period time I have like mood swings, cramp, drainage of energy sometimes. And I have noticed end of every month when I think I would have my period nexplanon gets tender... like right now.. sorry just relaying my experience. And I have to say I'm happy with it!! Don't have to have a shot, remember to take a pill, worry about something falling out or having to change it. And no babies no periods Heck yeah!! And I'm a smoker they say u shouldn't smoke while u have it in.. so Idk but as of right now I'm fine
I have had this birth control for about two years, and everything has been fine, however now I am having the same problem. It isn't severe pain, but it is still uncomfortable and achey-ish. I haven't went to the doctor yet, but I am going to demand this implant to be taken out, cause it is worrying me. It does hurt to move my arm in certain directions and my hand goes numb from time to time.
I am having the same problem. I researched and came to this forum. Half of my left arm is a little numb and it aches as well. Luckily no inflammation, but serious discomfort.
I have had nexplanon for about a month now and started recently experiencing numbness and tingling sensations throughout my arm. Sometimes it hurts to move my arm a certain way. I am worried and calling doc's office tomorrow. I feel like it's all on one side and the pain moves to my leg too...
Did you find anything out? I'm having the same symptoms
I have had the same issues, now I'm having very bad cramps no bleeding I did talk to my doctor last year he told me some pain was normal but I've had times where my arm has went completely numb so I'm getting it took out very soon .
I’m on my third Nexplanon and I have never experienced this reaction before. I had this one put in about a month ago and healing seemed to be going fine until randomly the other day. It’s just a severe achy discomfort but it’s lasted around 5 Days with no signs of stopping. It feels like when you get sick with the flu in terms of achiness but just in my arm. I don’t play with it and have been hoping it would just go away, but I think I’m going to make the appointment to get it taken out and hope that’s what is causing this.
I just went to the doctor after similar symptoms and had mine taken out (by a different doctor) and she said the reason mine hurt was because the original doctor who put it in put it in too deep and too far to the right of my bicep which was causing the implant to touch a nerve. I felt instant relief as soon as it was taken out. It was crazy.
They had a recall on this birth control because it has been linked to heart attack stroke and pulmonary embolism
I have had my nexplanon for a year and two months and my pain has started only just an hour ago.
Implanon can sometimes bruise if manipulated-it is a little plastic stick inserted under the skin into the subcutaneous fat tissue. Sometimes scar tissue can form around the Implanon device and may cause discomfort when the scar tissue gets pulled or stretched when moving the muscle. If there is no redness or swelling this indicates there is no infammation or infection in the area. Just keep an eye on it. If it does become inflammed, let your Dr know right away, otherwise it is probably nothing to worry over.
Is Implanon kind of like Norplant, except just one implant, and not made of silicon? I remember when I was in high school in the 90s, I knew quite a few girls who had Norplant. I couldn't imagine getting anything like that, and they had to get something like 5 of those suckers stuck in their arms at once after having incisions made to put them in there... and then go through the process again years later to get them removed. I'd take the Depo shot over that, and I hate shots! I have no use for birth control as it is, anyway. But I had to ask that, because every time I see something here about Implanon, I think back to those girls who got Norplant back in high school. I even remember them pulling the skin on their arms back to show me the implants, that was so gross, seeing those little implants under their skin! Geeze, even in IUD sounds more appealing than that! Sorry about that, but I just had to say something LOL!
Related topics
implanon, birth control, pain, doctor
Further information
- Implanon uses and safety info
- Implanon prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Implanon (detailed)
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