Question: I had my Nexplanon birth control put in my left non dominant arm on Thursday 1/21/2016. The following day I noticed numbing and tingling near implant sight to forearm. Days following into the weekend the symptoms reached to my 4th and 5th fingers as well as upper arm below my left shoulder. I reached out to provided the following Monday who inserted implant and was told to wait until the 1 week mark and to call back it same problems existed. The symptoms seemed to get worse with adding aching pain near the elbow and slight weakness in the hand and 4th and 5th fingers. ER doc stated nothing he could do further stating believed to be reaction to the ulnar nerve and advised to seek pcp for EMG or removal if symptoms don't subside. Following day referral from pcp office was given for EMG. Wednesday 1/27/16 EMG conducted showed abnormal response at the elbow confirming ulnar nerve but not relevant for surgery at this time, and too soon to detect long term nerve damage recommend to follow up for another test after a month if symptoms persist. Also stated it usually takes 10-14 days or longer for long term nerve damage to signaling. By now since 1 week my symptoms of tingling, numbness, aching elbow pain, pain below shoulder on arm, below inner armpit pain sensation, and now going up the left side of my neck. Symptoms seem to be at there worst when I'm using my arm and bending at the elbow, I had no relief when I was working/typing at my desk. I made an with pcp next Wednesday 2/3/16 for increased concerns from Nexplanon implant. Since before I had none of these symptoms. When making appt covering provider suggest having a full eval to see if its another problem. I know it's not another problem it's from this implant but I'm not medically trained. Any insight with what's going on? And how long should this last? It doesn't feel normal or like this should be a normal side effect. Should and ultrasound or MRI be ordered next to see if I have an abnormal body structure to make sure Nexplanon isn't hitting my nerve. Since there's no sign of major swelling my left arm measured less than my right. Thank you.

Thank you Dr. Aashish XXXXXXX

I went back to the walk in clinic through my doctors office today because the pain that was going up the left side of my neck turned into a numb, stiff feeling that when touched it tingles all the way to my jaw under my chin and jaw. The Provider said he wanted to prescribe a steriod, but decided not too because I'm still nursing my 21 month old. I disscused your thoughts with him about the ultrasound and Gabapentin, but he stated he just wanted me to wait to see my pcp.

My BP was 130/86 which is usually high for me.

I feel like my breathing is a lot slower today as well, and they did not check my oxygen levels at the office.

The new feeling in the left side of my neck reminds me of when i had an epidural and when you wait for the medication to wear off (using as an example because i had an epidural before giving birth back in 2014 and the feeling in my neck reminds me of that feeling i had in my legs waiting for the epidural to wear off) I can still turn my head but it starts to tingle when i do and i feel like my range of motion is off now.

Does the Ulnar nerve travel to the neck?

When I had the EMG they did the test with the needle as well and he stated that it was too soon to see if and how damaged the nerve was. So he recomended coming back if I was still having symptoms in a few weeks. But when he did the needle portion of the test he only did it to my forearm and hand/finger, not above the elbow.

How long would it take to find nerve damage after an injury?

Would the EMG show signs of muscle wasting? Or is there another test for that? And when would muscle wasting start after nerve damage? I read something that stated wasting of the muscle can begin to happen happen after a nerve injury

Thank you for all your insight!.