Waking up from sleep with a stiff and painful neck may be due to a prolonged cough, or painful deep breathing caused by intercostal neuritis, intercostal neuralgia, trauma-induced costochondritis, or fracture. In addition, inflammation or tumors in the lungs, which invade the posterior pleura causing pleurisy, can also cause the pain of deep breathing. If the pain is caused by strain or sports injury, myofasciitis of the thorax can be relieved by physical therapy and oral anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatment, while if the pain is caused by infection or tumor, appropriate treatment should be done for the cause.