Hi Jessie, thanks for reaching out! Yikes that sounds painful! This is not normal, and I recommend that you check with an IBCLC in your area or with your OB, as it sounds like you could have yeast.
Yeast is common, but not normal, and it can cause pain that you describe. It is easily treated, so get help! I hope you feel better soon!
Beth

Hi Kelcie, thank you for reaching out! That sounds painful!
How old is your baby? Have your nipples always hurt since you started breastfeeding, or is this new?
Cracked nipples are almost always caused by latch issues. Latch issues can be caused from positioning mistakes or from variances in your baby's mouth, tongue, and lip.
Make sure that when you breastfeed, that you place your baby high up and very close to the breast, so that your baby can get a big wide latch on the breast, and the nipple will be deep in the mouth instead of between the gums. You might benefit from having a lactation consultant help you with positioning and evaluate your baby's mouth.

In the meantime, keep a little drop of breast milk on the crack, this will promote healing. And if you need to take a break from that side, that's fine! Just make sure to pump that side if you skip a feeding, to make sure you don't get engorged.

Hope this helps. Let me know if I can you further.
Beth