This happens to me sometimes and I have no idea what it could be, but it usually passes after a couple of minutes. I would go to a doctor if it is lasting longer than that.

Happens to me too sometimes. Does it happen all the time? Or, is it just something that happens every once in awhile? Because, I get that every few days...just hold your breath and breath a few short breaths and it should go away. But, if it's long term, then I don't know.

go to your doctor.

It might be a condition called Precordial Catch. I would suggest asking your doctor about this.

Are you sure it isn't a bruised rib (i.e. are you certain it isn't one of the top ribs, which comparatively small, though admittedly hard to break)? When you say just above the rib cage that means right at the very top of your chest, in essence level with the shoulders. So if you mean just above where the rib cage ends then it could be precordial catch as mentioned, but this is normally on the left, not right, and is about the level of the 4-6th rib normally, not above the rib cage. Probably ruling out pleuritis (inflammation of the pleural lining around each lung) because the pain is so local, but a quick listen with a stethoscope by a doctor can confirm this. It's hard to see how you could have damaged an intercostal muscle (these lie between each rib) without damaging a rib itself. One final thing you may want to consider is a diaphragmatic injury. Saying the pain is just above your rib cage means it must be about or just below the level of your shoulders, as this is where the top of the rib cage is level with (much higher than many think). The diaphragm is a horizontal muscle right below your rib cage (bear with me here) that separates your thorax (chest) from your abdomen (tummy). It is the major muscle responsible for your breathing - when it contracts you breath in, when it relaxes you breath out. Thing is, the nerves that control it are the 3rd, 4th and 5th cervical spinal nerves and these also innervate the area near your shoulders. If you get pain due to irritaion of the diaphragm, you get "referred pain", that is the body cannot localise it to the diaphragm as those nerves are muscle nerves, not pain nerves, but because they originate at C3,4,5, you feel the pain at the level of your shoulders. This would explain why the pain is above your rib cage (again, I'm not sure if this is where you actually meant), and why the pain is when you breathe in. So, in summary, my top 2 guesses are diaphragm irritation, followed by precordial catch. But obviously, get it checked out. Don't worry about heart problems, as it is on the wrong side of the chest (unless you have rare left to right transposition of your organs). but it is still something that needs to be looked at.

I am experiencing this right now. I woke up and when I lay on my sides, it doesn't hurt, but it does hurt to breath in when i'm standing, and going through my day. It is annoying. My boyfriend (who is an exercise physical therapist) says your ribs are out of line, it happens frequently and can be quite common, same as your spine being aligned wrong, and there is slight pain in the disks. if you stretch and lay on your back and try to crack your back and straighten up your body a little bit, you might fix your problem. I do that, and it alters my ribs a bit, just their location and it goes away.

Sometimes the cartilege or ligaments between your ribs can become inflammed causing that kind of pain. If it does not subside within a couple of days, you should see a doctor.