The pain I feel, after a little less than 2 months, is not severe, and it is intermittent. In fact, I am not sure that pain is the right term. It is a curious sensation more like a mild internal itch combined with tenderness bordering on soreness in and on the surface of the nipple. It results in a definite awareness/self-consciousness of my breasts when the sensation occurs. I do not feel any distinct budding at this point. Pressing on the nipple to feel for a bud causes some pain, as though there were some internal bruising.
Is there a thread which goes into the relationship and timing of sensations, soreness and pain to the onset of budding? I have seen references to a linkage between the two, but not an in-depth discussion.