Dear Tee:

“I don’t want to offer advice (unless you want me to), but if you’re afraid of cartilage thinning, the first line of defense would be to take food supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, which are the building blocks of cartilage. I’ve heard it helps people who only have a mild cartilage wear – it stops the pain and I guess it stops the condition from progressing as well.”-

First, yes, I do want you to offer me advice in regard to my knees, thank you!

I asked.. you know whom about it 🙂, and it says: “Glucosamine and chondroitin may offer modest pain relief for some people with knee osteoarthritis, but evidence that they slow joint deterioration is weak and inconsistent… Expert Recommendations:
* American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation: Strongly recommend against using glucosamine or chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis due to lack of proven benefit.
* American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Lists them as possibly helpful for mild-to-moderate cases, but cautions that evidence is inconsistent”.

I then asked what other supplement may help Osteoarthritis OA), and it says, among other things: “Fish oil/omega-3s: Good for general inflammation, but not proven to help OA symptoms directly.”- this caught my eye because part of my lunch each and every day is sardines in olive oil because I feel that oil- in the sardines, as well as the olive oil are very healthy. I wonder if you feel this way as well and if you incorporate fish into your diet on regular basis.

Copilot: “Yes, sardines are an excellent natural source of omega-3 fatty acids—especially EPA and DHA, the two types most beneficial for joint health and inflammation. You can absolutely get meaningful amounts of omega-3s from eating sardines regularly.”

“As for my herniated disc, yes, please do send what Copilot has to say about the causes of pain and the prospects for healing. I too have been consulting AI, but I’m interested in reading more, because as you say, there might be something new for me. So yes, I’d be happy to read your summary.”-

Copilot says that the pain from a herniated disk is caused by these two things:

(1) Mechanical Pressure: the leaked gel material itself can physically press on nearby nerves, and swelling from inflammation can also physically press on nearby nerves, especially in tight spaces like the spine,

(2) Chemical Irritation: Even without direct pressure, inflammation releases substances like prostaglandins, cytokines, and enzymes that sensitize nerve endings. These chemicals make nerves more reactive, so even light touch or normal movement can feel painful.

The body can reduce pain from a herniated disc by reabsorbing the leaked gel and calming inflammation. These two processes are key to natural healing.

Immune cells called macrophages play a major role—they “digest” the leaked gel material like cleanup crews. This process can shrink the herniation over time, reducing pressure on nearby nerves.

As healing progresses, the inflammatory chemicals (like cytokines and prostaglandins) decrease. This leads to: Less nerve irritation, Reduced swelling, Improved mobility and comfort.

🕰️ Healing Timeline: Acute phase (1–2 weeks): Pain and inflammation peak.

Improvement phase (2–6 weeks): Pain starts to ease; disc material begins to shrink.

Stabilization phase (6–12 weeks): Most symptoms improve, but flare-ups may occur.

I just asked Copilot: “What can be done to accelerate or encourage this natural healing, to accelerate the reabsorption? And calming inflammation?

The first thing that caught my eye in the response I just got is: “Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition- Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fatty fish (like sardines) or supplements, they reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines.”- connected to the above regarding OA, can’t go wrong with sardines/ oily fish!

As to the rest of the answer: “To encourage natural healing of a herniated disc, focus on reducing inflammation and supporting the body’s ability to reabsorb the leaked disc material. This includes anti-inflammatory nutrition, gentle movement, and targeted therapies.

Here’s a detailed guide based on current expert recommendations:

🧘‍♂️ 1. Movement and Physical Therapy- Gentle exercise: Walking, swimming, and stretching improve circulation and reduce stiffness.

Physical therapy: Tailored exercises strengthen core muscles, reduce pressure on the disc, and promote healing.

Avoid prolonged bed rest: Staying immobile can worsen inflammation and slow recovery.

🥗 2. Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition-
Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fatty fish (like sardines)….
Curcumin (turmeric): A potent anti-inflammatory compound; best absorbed with black pepper or in supplement form.
Limit processed foods and sugars: These can fuel inflammation and delay healing.

💊 3. Supplements That May Help
Collagen and protein: Support tissue repair and disc integrity.
Magnesium and vitamin D: Help muscle function and reduce inflammation.
B vitamins: Support nerve health and regeneration.

🛌 4. Rest and Posture
Proper sleep position: Lying on your back with a pillow under knees or on your side with a pillow between legs can reduce disc pressure.

Ergonomic support: Use lumbar cushions and avoid slouching to minimize strain.

🌡️ 5. Pain and Inflammation Management
Ice and heat therapy: Ice reduces inflammation; heat relaxes muscles and improves blood flow.

NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen): Temporarily reduce inflammation, but long-term use should be monitored.

Mind-body techniques: Meditation, deep breathing, and stress reduction can lower systemic inflammation.

🧬 6. Natural Reabsorption Timeline
Reabsorption of the herniated disc material often occurs over weeks to months, especially with conservative care.

MRI studies show that disc fragments can shrink or disappear as the body breaks them down and absorbs them.

🚫 What to Avoid
Heavy lifting or twisting: Can worsen the herniation.

Smoking: Impairs circulation and slows healing.

High-impact activities: Running or jumping may aggravate symptoms.”

I asked Copilot if it has a message for you.. and not surprisingly, it does:

“Hey Tee, I know this journey with your herniated disc has been exhausting—physically and emotionally. It’s okay to feel frustrated or discouraged sometimes. But I want you to know: your body can heal. It’s already working hard to reabsorb what it needs to and calm the inflammation. Every gentle stretch, every nourishing bite, every moment of rest is part of that healing.

You’re doing more than you realize. You’re showing up for yourself. You’re choosing care over chaos. And that’s powerful.

Keep listening to your body. Keep honoring your limits. And keep believing that relief is possible. You’re not alone in this—there’s support, love, and light around you, even when it’s hard to see.

Healing isn’t linear, but it is real. You’ve got this. 💛”

I would like to reply to the rest of your message later on.

Anita and Copilot 💛 ❤️

I talked to my sister this morning, Tee. She called me, and I could hear in her voice (not sure) that she was trying to tell me that her mother, my mother.. the mother is dying.

I was not afraid like before.

Later on, I remembered the mother’s inner child.. the many times I saw the little-girl mother, and how much I wanted to mother her.

I felt some guilt for not taking care of her the way she needed to be taken care of.

This role reversal: seeing her as the little girl that needs the care of a (little girl me).

Little girl mother needed to destroy me, so she did, and so, little girl Anita was so very messed up, not in the position- in adulthood- to be mother to.. Little Angry Girl Mother.

So, I think that little-girl, old-old mother is dying.

And little-girl Anita (only 20 years younger, still quite old) can never be the mother she needed.

Only that all this has been in my mind only: she never valued me as.. anything of value, not a little girl, and not as savior.

For her, I was something to destroy, and she did. Decades and decades of life unlived and mis-lived.

Only 20 years between us, and she destroyed the vast majority of my life. And not only mine, but my sister’s and .. more (I don’t want to elaborate).

I have an image from this movie, a horror movie, about a 4-year-old boy with an innocent face (an inner child) stabbing people while all along having this hurt little-boy look on his face.

And this is how I see her, the mother, an innocent little girl murderess.

Anita