My rib cage around to my spine has dull ache. what could cause this?

Rob cage pain: Sometimes this is just from sleeping on it wrong or due to some kind of lifting/pulling activity that caused muscle spasms or strain. If it radiates from the spine around, it could haw a spinal cause due to nerve irritation, although that's pretty rare. If you just had a bad cough, it's from the muscle and ribs being irritated from that. Have it checked if it doesn't improve in 2 weeks. Good luck!