@jill7517 , I also understand your frustration. My pain also lasted more than 5 weeks. It got a bit better, but it was still enough to interfere with sleep. It's natural and will go away with time. Although it's possible that you have a broken rib, your surgeon is the expert on this subject. If he's not worried, you shouldn't be either. Believe me, I understand it's easier to know that than to feel it.

As a side note, OMG, the sneezing! I remember the nurses telling me that coughing would hurt. They told me to squeeze a pillow against my chest, and it would still hurt. But they didn't warn me about the sneezing! It seemed like that was even worse than coughing. Sometimes, if you press your finger at the point where your nose meets your cheek, you can suppress the sneeze long enough that the feeling goes away.

Hang in there. Binge your favorite TV show, eat ice cream, and give yourself permission to be a bum. After what you've been through, you deserve it. I wish you all the best. Keep us informed about your recovery.