About 6 weeks after I started NuvaRing (May 08), I started having severe back pain. But in that 6 weeks, I had also a minor accident with my horse, leading my Dr’s to assume the pain from was that. After a whole year of steroids off and on, muscle relaxants, MRI’s and even physical therapy (ALL of which did absolutely nothing), I decided to chart the “flare ups” of pain.
I realized that every time I had a flare up, I was on week 3, about to start a period. Every time, without fail. When I googled “nuvaring and back pain,” I found tons of other women experiencing similar pain. All said when they went off NR, it went away eventually.
My bottom line question is, how long does it take for these hormones to get all the way out of the system? One month? Three? This is the end of my 2nd full week off the NR and the back pain has returned full force, but exactly the same days as before- for example, if I were to start a period next week, the serious pain would start Thursday/ Friday the week before.
When my Dr.(not my regular Dr, but another member of the same practice) put me on it, he told me it was the gentlest BC on the market- now I know this to be completely the opposite.
Thank you very much for any helpful answers- or even just similar stories! 
#1 by Pem on January 11, 2010 - 10:28 pm
I’m on the nuvaring and I haven’t suffered any ill effects.
My skin looks better now though. I’m not sure if that’s the ring, or my new cleanser!
#2 by Allie on January 12, 2010 - 3:53 am
A month from the day you took it out.
and the birth control stops working 3 hours after you take it out.
#3 by Amanda K on January 12, 2010 - 4:55 am
I was on NR for about 8 months. I found that after having it out for about 3 months I was almost back to my normal self. Im on month 5 now and have had many people start to say that I am me again. I think it depends on how long you were on it, your body type, just things like that. My story was kind of a nightmare. I was homicidal. I really thought I was going two kill someone. The Dr. said to stay on cause I would get normal. After 6 months of having drastic mood swings, not sleeping, and horrible cramps the wonderful hubby got snipped. So I am able to go B/C free. Seriously for anyone else who reads about NR stay off it get off it. Its a horrible B/C. Dont let your Dr. talk you into it!