Re: Woman who had stopped breastfeeding because of nipple damage and was
still having shooting breast pain.
I would be thinking of thrush. I have seen shooting breast pain respond to
antifungal treatment  in this situation. There does not have to be thrush
obvious in the baby's mouth, etc.
Also I have seen women who have stopped feeding because of thrush and have
later become pregnant again and developed shooting breast pain +/- nipple
pain - even before the next baby is born (one woman had not breastfed for 4
years!).
Regards,
Lisa Amir
GP/LC, Melbourne, Australia