What is good daily med that only treats anxiety and depression?

Have the dr check your magnesium levels.
Also read about DMSO for arthritis.
It was an old drug taken off the market, but coming back for all sorts of ailments.

Try walking in the swimming pool at the 4 to 5 foot deep area.

Every one responds differently to medications. Prozac worked well for me for 32 years and then started causing my sodium levels plunge to dangerous levels. It has taken months of working with a very good psychiatrist to find something that works without affecting my sodium levels. Prozac had to be replaced by 3 medications to do the work Prozac did on its own. If your psychiatrist is not listening to you, find someone else to work with. Finding what works can be a long and frustrating process for you and your family and friends ; but, it is worth it in the end to find something that works with no or tolerable side effects. I wish you lots of luck and support on your journey to wellness!

Thanks Karin,

I've been on 40mg of paroxetine (Paxil) since 2002, so 22 years. I tried to taper off but wasn't successful. And I was very lucky in that Paxil was the first anti-depressant I tried, and it has worked very well.

I also workout on a spin bike 5 or 6x/week for 40 minutes. It's a hard (and sweaty) workout but I feel great after. Vigorous exercise of this type can lessen the symptoms of depression for some.

All the best.

Joe

If you've been to the doctor and all is ok plus your bloodwork, paxil is very good. Hard to come off of but does the job. Exercise has helped me and just keeping my mind busy with things I love to do. Take Care

diet, lifestyle, exercise!
diet: cut out the bad foods
lifestyle: cut out illegal drugs & reduce alcohol to 1 drink a day
exercise: min 30 - 40 mins vigorous exercise min 3-4x per week

Good for you Joe. Finding an antidepressant that works well for you combined with a solid exercise program sounds like a winning combination. That and eating well and not smoking or drinking can do wonders for your body.

Thanks again Dave. I was lucky in that the first SSRI recommended by my PCP, Paxil, worked right off the bat. It didn't even take the usual 4 to 6 weeks to kick in.

I do the other things you do, and about two years ago I dropped from 190 lbs to 155 lbs today. I did that by taking up spinning, a very strenuous form of cardio that I love, and cutting sugar (well, mostly) from my diet.

I feel as good as when I ran marathons on my 30s and 40s. I'm 5'10" and my weight at 155 is on the low side of normal and it feels great. I've had both knees replaced, one hip, and next week I get my left shoulder replaced. Osteoarthritis - thanks Mom! I'm pretty sure my fitness has led to very fast recoveries, and I expect another with my shoulder.

Thanks Dave.

Joe

I find it to be very frustrating when I hear about patients who've had multiple joint replacement surgeries like yourself. What do I have to do to convince my doctors that the osteoarthritis in my knees and hips is making my life miserable, and need some help.
I went in for replacement surgery on my left knee in 2018 because I had already had 3 arthroscopic procedures on it in the previous 2 years. When I woke up in the recovery room, the first thing my wife said to me was "they only did a partial replacement". I didn't really believe her at first, then the doctor came in and said once he got in there, that the interior portion didn't look as bad as the anterior, hence the partial. He said going back in and making it a total was a piece of cake.
Then he retired.
Now, every time my GP x rays my knees and/or hips, he says the same thing every single time, " the arthritis doesn't look that bad". He knows how much pain I'm in though on a daily basis, I've been his patient for almost 30 years. He has said that if it were up to him, he'd do the total on my left knee, along with a replacement of my right knee as well. My new/old orthopedist has looked at my right knee, and said I'm on my way to a total replacement, as long as I lose 30 pounds. How the hell am I supposed to lose 30 pounds if I can't even walk for 5 minutes without some help because of the pain in my feet and joints? I worked a very physical job for 35+ years driving a truck, climbing in and out of the cab 25-30 times a day, and moving really heavy objects until my body started breaking down 10 years ago. I've been heavily built my entire life, and lifted weights on days I wasn't working until almost a year ago. I'm beyond frustrated with the situation, I know there's not much they can do about the neuropathy in my feet, but osteoarthritis symptoms can be helped considerably with joint replacement surgery. Apparently our insurance provider is also part of the problem.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm glad you've gotten the help you've needed, I'm just jealous of people who've gotten the help I feel I need and have basically been ignored.

Hi Mr. Macabre,

I am so sorry for what you are going through. You wrote:

"He knows how much pain I'm in though on a daily basis..."

Now I'm not a Dr, but my knee surgeon said that once I reached the point you're at, it's time to do the replacement. I'd find another surgeon. I look for surgeons in their mid 30s to late 40s, with a good med school/residency/fellowship pedigree, great references, and with thousands of surgeries under their belt. These surgeons are young, talented, and ambitious at this point in their careers.

As for losing 30 lbs, that should be a suggestion, not something that needs to be done ahead of surgery imo. Rehab doesn't include any impact activities, in fact you won't be able to do impact activities with new knees. I understand you're a big guy, but big guys get bad knees too and should not have to live with pain.

I would not give up Mr. Macabre. Look for a new surgeon. And if you are bone-on-bone in your knees, that is, there is no cartilage left, you should get approved by insurance.

Again I am so sorry for what you are going through. It certainly sounds to me like you need replacements. Find a new doc and get approved for the replacements.

All the best to you sir. And please let me know if you find someone who can do the surgery. And I'd fight insurance as well. Bone-on-bone with arthritis is a condition that can only be relieved long-term by a TKR, as far as I know. And it sounds like the same is true for your hip(s). I had horrible pain in my groin from my arthritic hip and only a replacement fixed it.

(Also, your history of arthroscopic procedures should tell a surgeon and insurance that it's time for a total replacement, knees and hips. I had both knees scoped twice each before my TKRs. Enough.)

Joe