Will alcohol make it better?

Can you feel comfortable socialising with your friends while nipping at a soda and lime?

These are questions only you can answer. Your doctor already gave a sound opinion.

It may take another professional to help you deal with the loss of physical activity, the loss of your former self. Ain't no way to candy-coat what has happened to us on this board. Depression is a common reaction to all this loss.

Patience is a cast-iron beast at a time like this, but gather all you can. Impatience and frustration can lead to further injury as many of us have found.

I still occasionally miss being able to raise a lot of dust and have a heluva good time like I used to. For the most part, I get my thrills in different ways, and it took some time and some snarling before I learned those different ways.

No shame in talking with a pro about this...rattle your doctor's cage for a referral if need be. Tell the doc what you just told us.