Drinking quelled the insanity that it seemed to have caused. When I quit I was like an exposed nerve mentally. Physically, things got better noticeably daily and that is what helped me stay quit.
Since quitting for a good while now, I am still a little messed up, but nothing like before.
I was slowly degenerating physically, mainly because being drunk all the time leads to sitting around all the time.
My stamina was terrible.
Your aches and pain could be your body healing from the abuse.
When you see a Dr., I'd make sure to get the minimal pain meds I could.
Careful there. Relapsing while taking meds is another level of hell on earth (so I have heard).
Thanks.