Hi jourdain, ouch. I know the pain and discomfort that you are enduring. I once suffered broken ribs and was in agony for 5 months and further pain for 18 months. One of the results of broken ribs is that you do not fully inhale when breathing (because of the pain). The result of this is that you are susceptible to lung infections and even pneumonia in the worst cases. It is for this reason that the medics no longer bind the rib cage, which would ease the pain and discomfort. There is no quick heal for rib injuries, but I would advice to try and take full deep breathes at times to your lungs from gathering fluid. Oh and just as an aside. 'She who must be obeyed' who has never smoke always seemed totally immune to coughs, colds, and influenza, has had the worst hacking cough for the last few weeks. People that work with her have also suffered with it, she still has it. The dog is having a nervous breakdown, I thing the poor things takes the coughing to be barking.