Tampon trouble

Je
I've been using pads since I started my period (almost 5 years), and I want to start using tampons because it'll just make my life easier, but whenever I try to put one it, it hurts like hell and when it's in, it hurts. And I've done a bunch of research but I can never put it in properly and I've tried a lot. Any suggestions? I'm almost 17 btw