My husband has a bad back, recently getting pain in right rib area, feels like road rash, is this caused by his back?

May be shingles: The earliest symptoms of shingles  may include headache, sensitivity to light or flu like symptoms without a fever.  later, you may feel itching, tingling, or pain in a localized area. That’s where a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur a few days later. The rash turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters fill with fluid and then crust over.

Shingles or radic?: I agree shingles may be the cause. If he ever had a "rash" in this area recurrent burning pain without the rash occurs commonly. If a nerve exiting the spinal canal were pinched that could also be the culprit. Nerve root irritation more frequently aches and stabs and rarely occurs with a rash. Hope this helps.