Why is my nipple agony?

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

I've been breastfeeding DD for almost 10months now. I am prone to mastitis (always in this breast) but this isn't mastitis.
A few nights ago I thought my nipple seemed unusually sore overnight when DD was feeding. And then the next morning I could see a white spot on the nipple and a small amount of swelling behind it. So I assumed a blocked duct. I had very warm bath, hot flannel, scratched off the white spot, tried massage/squeezing. The white spot has now gone - there almost seems to be some sort of hole there now which is slightly scabbed over (bleurgh) and there is a small amount of weeping on my breast pad.
Anyway, the pain is ramping up to a whole new level. Her latching on now is almost unbearable.
I feel fine though, not flu-like etc.
Any ideas? Please!

[InfiniteJest]

This happened to me a few weeks ago. From what I read online, it was a milk blister. Like you, I popped it myself so I could make sure the duct was draining properly, and... ouch. Open sore kind of pain. It lasted for about a week I think and then went away on its own (I'm guessing once the sore from the popped blister wasn't so raw).

I can totally sympathise because the pain was not nice, but I just kept feeding off that side as much as I could cope with - I didn't try expressing, so not sure if that would work for you until it heals properly, to stop it getting engorged? It might be just as painful as feeding, though...

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

Thank you - I guess I have to wait it out. And find a piece of wood to bite on while she latches.