Inflammation: The Hidden Fire Behind Pain, Aging, and Disease

168 snips

Oct 20, 2025

Guest

Cindy Geyer

Guest

George Papanicolaou

Dr. George Papanicolaou and Dr. Cindy Geyer delve into the hidden dangers of chronic inflammation. Dr. Papanicolaou shares insights on innovative treatments like ozone therapy for arthritis, revealing how it can aid recovery without invasive surgeries. Dr. Geyer emphasizes the links between gut health and autoimmune conditions, advocating for personalized functional medicine. They discuss the harmful effects of sugar and processed foods, and the benefits of a tailored anti-inflammatory lifestyle, including a 10-Day Detox diet to restore health.

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INSIGHT

Osteoarthritis Is An Inflammatory Disease

Osteoarthritis is driven largely by chronic inflammation rather than just wear-and-tear.
Cartilage and ligaments have low oxygen and repair capacity, so systemic inflammation accelerates degeneration.

INSIGHT

Microbiome Links Gut To Joints

Gut microbes and even microbial DNA are found in joints and may trigger local inflammation.
The microbiome influences systemic and joint inflammatory responses.

ANECDOTE

Weight Loss Reversed A Scheduled Knee Replacement

A patient 45 pounds overweight was told he needed knee replacement and lost 45 pounds instead.
After diet, physical therapy, and supplements he canceled surgery and recovered function.

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A hidden fire called chronic inflammation drives many problems—from joint pain and arthritis to autoimmune conditions, and even faster aging. Typical fixes (like pain meds and steroid shots) calm symptoms but often miss the “why,” and can leave people still hurting or even create more issues. Big triggers of inflammation that impact our joints, and so much more, include sugar and refined carbs, extra weight, leaky gut, toxins, infections, stress, and poor sleep—plus joints naturally get less blood and oxygen as we age. This is why it’s important to create an anti-inflammatory lifestyle plan starting with real whole foods, and incorporating regular exercise, stress management, gut repair, and targeted anti-inflammatory supplements.

In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. George Papanicolaou and Dr. Cindy Geyer, how chronic inflammation, arthritis, and joint pain can be reduced using a Functional Medicine approach, including how to do the anti-inflammatory 10-Day Detox diet.

Dr. George Papanicolaou is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Abington Memorial Hospital. Over time as the healthcare system made it harder for patients to receive personal care, Dr. Papanicolaou decided a change was needed. He began training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine. In 2015, he established Cornerstone Personal Health—a practice dedicated entirely to Functional Medicine. In August 2017, Dr. Papanicolaou joined The UltraWellness Center.

Dr. Cindy Geyer received her bachelor of science and her doctor of medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine.

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Full-length episodes can be found here:

Prolozone and Nutritional Therapy for Osteoarthritis

What Causes Inflammation And How Can You Treat It?

Is An Autoimmune Condition Driving Your Raynaud's Syndrome?

How To Do The 10-Day Detox