At age 79, I suddenly developed a severe back spasm in the muscle by my scapula. When I tried to sit up, the pain was blinding. The first day I lay on the couch all day because any movement was intensely painful. I got a friend to bring me aspirin and water. I couldn't eat. Day 2 I could suffer through standing up and move a little. I called my Kaiser orthopedist and asked for an appointment. His staff referred me to a Spine Specialist (above the waist problems) and that department told me to go to ER where I could get x-rays and a faster Spine Dept. appointment. My friend took me to ER, where Kaiser staff admitted ER was very understaffed; the intake nurse took only half of my admitting info and left. Then a doctor briefly saw me and reported what muscle was involved to an ER nurse. The staff gave me two Motrin and a pain patch. They told me not to move at home and to call the Spine Care Dept. for an appointment. They gave me no prescription for medication at home. Returning home in severe pain, I felt like writing an empathy note to imprisoned Luigi who has suffered so much pain with no medical relief.