It HURTS!! possibly milk duct spasm???

bokicat

I've been having sharp stabbing pains in my left breast after the first feeding of the day.  It starts about 15 minutes after breastfeeding, and lasts for about 2 hours.  I went to see the lactation consultant today, and she said she's never seen this before.  She does not suspect an infection (thrush) or an abscess. 

 The pain is only on one side of the breast.  I also have a recurring plugged duct on that side of the breast, but it hasn't been plugged as often lately (but still does every once in a while).  I get the shooting pain whether the milk duct is plugged or not.  

 This is been going on for almost a month and it's so bad, i'm considering weaning, even though i don't want to.  Imagine child birth pains, but in the breast.  OUCH!!

Has anyone else heard of this?  please help!!  I'm getting desperate!

 

Ladiebug710

I had similar pains in the side of my right breast for a little over two weeks.  I thought it was plugged ducts and used lots of massage.  The pain was actually worse on the right when I was feeding on the left.  It was weird, and I never really knew what it was, but it hurt and was a sharp spasm type pain.  It finally went away on its own.

bokicat

I'm so glad there's a light at the end of the tunnel!!  Thank you for sharing!  I felt like such an oddball after seeing the lactation consultant, cuz she said she's never seen this before in all her years working. 

 did you also have it only in the morning, lasting about a couple hours?  Did it suddenly go away, as in, one day it just stopped?  or did it get better gradually?

leanna0127

I had the same exact thing with my daughter. The pain was only in my left breast, would start about 5-15 minutes after I was done feeding her, and would last a couple hours or until I took Ibuprofen. My LC and obgyn both did not know what it was, but my obgyn guessed it could be some nerve damage caused by a bad latch in the beginning. She also said that for whatever reason, the blood flow may not returning to my left nipple like it should and that is causing the spasm. I suspected this was the case because I did see some white patches on my nipple when this was happening. The only thing that did help the pain was Ibuprofen about 20 minutes before I would nurse and also a very warm compress directly on my nipple and breast after I nursed. The pain did go away completely when she was about 9 weeks old. GL!

bokicat

Thanks for the input!!  I forgot to mention that I didn't get the blanching of the nipple, so the LC ruled out vasospasm of the blood vessels.  I will try your suggestions with the ibuprofen and the warm compress.  I hope the pain goes away soon!!!