Going on my 4th week of rib pain on both sides! Have been coughing due to post-nasal drip which has considerably lessened but the damage is done. Severe pain in rib area. Inhaling deeply, exhaling hard is very painful. Just a slight cough causes intense pain in the rib and breast-bone area. Hard to sleep and any little cough creates pain.....just when I think I'm getting better it gets painful since I cough now and then.....