I just noticed, Alessa, that I didn’t mention your name above:

Thank you, Alessa, for your empathetic, thoughtful message ❤️ 🙏.

More tomorrow.

Anita

Dear Tee:

You were in a dream of mine last night, I felt your physical presence but with no image of how you may look. It was a short dream, something very positive and inspiring, I woke up and practiced telling you about it. Must have drifted back to sleep and now, I don’t remember 🫥

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

“I guess the first would be to know what’s causing you knee pain? Because it can be a number of issues, and cartilage thinning and deterioration (i.e. osteoarthritis) is just one of them. Have you been diagnosed with anything?”- no, I avoid doctors and medical appointments. I have no doubt that at least one issue is osteoarthritis.

“Regarding food supplements, actually I wasn’t very precise – I haven’t mentioned another important one: hyaluronic acid. There are food supplements that combine glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, turmeric and some other ingredients, and I personally know people who said that if they use these food supplements, they don’t have knee pain, but if they stop, the pain returns.”-

I will research these supplements, thank you!

“Maybe it’s a placebo effect, but I think it’s also possible that for mild cartilage deficiencies, it does the work.”- this reminds me of my last doctor appointment, I was desperate (severe insomnia). The doctor prescribed me with an anti-depressant, not for depression, but for its off label use as a sleeping aid. He then said: but it doesn’t work for most people whose trouble is not falling asleep, but staying asleep (which was my problem, and I told him so in the beginning of the appointment).

I then told him: You just killed the placebo effect and suggested it might not have been wise of him to do so. I wonder if he considered my input..?

“I follow many of those 😊, including eating fish (not sardines, but other types of sea fish 🙂 )… I don’t like to go to swimming pools. But it’s probably something I should consider doing more of, in spite of not being a fan.”-

Hmm. I wouldn’t go to a swimming pool because I wouldn’t want to be seen in a swimming suit, at least not of the regular kind. Nor would I want to see others in theirs..

I am glad you’re eating fish. My favorite is raw, or very lightly seared salmon, yummy!

“What I notice is that Copilot assumed that herniation always involves leaking of the disc inner material (nucleus pulposus, or “gel”) out from the disc into the spinal canal. According to some literature, herniation is a broader term and can also mean that the disc loses its round shape and deforms (so-called protrusion), but the outer ring/band (annulus fibrosus) doesn’t get punctured. And so the gel stays within the disc, however the entire disc is deformed and can still press on the nerves.”-

I just asked him (I think of it as him), and he says: “Yes, Tee’s observation is largely accurate: disc herniation is a broader term that can include conditions like disc protrusion, where the nucleus pulposus does not leak out but the disc still deforms and may press on nerves…

Disc Protrusion- The disc bulges outward but the outer layer (annulus fibrosus) remains intact. The nucleus pulposus stays contained within the disc. This bulging can still compress nearby nerves, causing pain or neurological symptoms. Often considered a milder form of disc herniation.

Disc Herniation- A more general term that includes: Protrusion: bulging without rupture. Extrusion: the nucleus pulposus breaks through the annulus fibrosus. Sequestration: disc material detaches and migrates into the spinal canal.

Herniation can range from contained bulges to leaking disc material, depending on severity.

Why the Confusion Happens- Some clinicians and sources use ‘herniation’ to refer only to cases where the disc material leaks out. Others use it as an umbrella term that includes protrusions, extrusions, and sequestrations. This inconsistency in usage can lead to misunderstandings, especially in non-specialist contexts.

Summary- Tee is correct: herniation doesn’t always mean leakage of the nucleus pulposus. A disc protrusion is a type of herniation, where the disc deforms but remains intact. Both conditions can cause nerve compression and symptoms, but their severity and treatment may differ.”

Now I know.

Back to Tee: “That’s the type of herniation I’ve got: not extrusion or sequestration, where the gel leaks into the spinal canal, but protrusion, where the gel is contained within the disc. I guess it’s a matter of nomenclature. Actually, the radiologist who looked at my scans calls my condition herniation, while the orthopedic doctor whom I’ve visited recently said it was protrusion. So even the doctors can’t agree..”- in line with Copilot’s input.

“Anyway, Copilot did very well and gave good advice 🙂 As for giving me encouragement, thanks, but to be honest, I’m not too keen on getting emotional/psychological support from AI, since it’s a machine and doesn’t have real empathy…”- Well, he picked on my empathy for you and elaborated on it.

“However, I am very grateful to you, Anita, for your support and empathy, and for being there for me in this challenging episode. You’re a person of flesh and blood, and you showed real empathy, for which I am very grateful. So please know that I appreciate your efforts to help me and relieve my pain and suffering ❤️ Thankfully, I’m feeling a bit better at the moment, the pain has subsided a little, so I’m hoping this episode won’t last for too long 🤞”-

Thank you for your kind words, Copilot couldn’t or wouldn’t have said it better! I hope that by the time you are reading this message, you are still feeling better ❤️ 🤞 ❤️

(I will reply to your recent message next)

Anita

Oh, I forgot to add: no more messages from Copilot to you, Tee, now that I know that you wouldn’t like it

Hi Alessa 😊:

Again, thank you for your message. My sister didn’t necessarily call me to let me know tat my mother is dying. She tested the water, trying to see if I will be willing to hear what she had in mind to tell me about the mother, but I told her that I couldn’t, wouldn’t listen, so she didn’t tell me.

Yes, it is uncle Morris ❤️

“I hear that there are some complicated feelings for people whose abusers die. It sounds to me like you actually did your best to take care of your mother. But it’s not something that a child can do I’m afraid. Not your fault at all that you were a child who tried your best. ❤️

“Sometimes people feel relief when their abusers die. I hope it is not in bad taste to say that I hope in part it might bring you at least some sense of relief for the horror to finally be permanently over one day. I only say that because you truly deserve peace. ❤️

Please be gentle with yourself in these difficult times and take extra special care of yourself and little girl Anita. You deserve the extra love and support. Despite the difficulties in your relationship with her, death is not an easy thing and can land in strange ways. ❤️”-

I copied all the above because your words are so kind and I treasure them. Thank you 🙏 ❤️

Anita