Dr. Hanif warmly Welcomes you! Thanks for consulting me at virtual clinic. I have carefully worked through your case, and I can realize your health worries. Being your physician, I assure you not to worry as I will take care all of your medical concerns.   You did not gave history of this cough. Why it evolved? How long are you been in cough? Any accompanying disease of the upper respiratory tract etc ??? You did not mention the approximate time of surgeries you had? Anyway, no problem. What happens is with prolonged chest infection and persistent causative agent for cough, you get overwhelming and fatigued respiratory muscles and when you cough you use what are called, extrinsic muscles of respiration that aches and pain is related typically to cough, not at rest. If I was your treating physician I would like to prescribe you an antibiotic if there Is any infection. Plus Ibuprofen800mg twice daily for 5days, plus Claritin twice daily for 7days, plus a cough syrup. And off course I would like to follow-up within 2 weeks. If you need further, detailed and quick assistance related to any health issues, feel free to ask me a question directly from my profile. You can also attach Lab reports and pictures with direct question. Have a wonderful time ahead. Please don t forget to give your valuable feedback and five star rating, to help me assist you always in a better way. Click at Thanks & I Find This Answer Helpful too. Please, write a review on my profile, about your experience with me.   Regards! DR. MUHAMMAD M. HANIF PHILADELPHIA, USA