Advice please

The relapses getting worse, that's known as the Alcohol Deprivation Effect. Google it for more info, but you'll basically see studies that have duplicated what you've described. You can get on top of the next one if you go beyond moderate drinking with a med called Selincro. It can help you keep a limit on the drinking. Have a look at this discussion started by Foreverfuzzy:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tsm-nalmefene-selincro-trying-to-control-my-drinking--493058?page=0#1898240

I understand not all GP's know about it, so if you're interested, it might be a good idea to (ahem) help him get up to speed on it beforehand, if he doesn't know about it already. There's a Patient info page on Selincro too, discussions, etc. 

I hope you are indeed feeling better today!

I don't know how to advise you on the lethargy and pain in your legs, but I'm not surprised you feel lethargic or have pains here and there or even cramps. I'm no health professional, but from what I've read, alcohol does cause your kidneys to waste magnesium, which causes various problems. You might pose the question to RHGB who posts here, as he's had personal experience with alcohol detox. Perhaps start the message with:

RHGB - detox question

So it shows up in the summary in the email notification that a new message has been posted to a discussion.

Of course, it would be a good to let your GP know about this too, no matter what kinds of answers you get in on this site.  

Certainly when your GP tells you detox is the Rx, Selincro is not a substitute for that. If you have another run-in with alcohol after this detox and start drinking more than the guidelines for moderate consumption, then it might be good if both you and your GP were familiar with Selincro beforehand. It could save you from a full-blown relapse, which as you say, tends to be worse than the relapse before. That's how Selincro is used, to put a cap on heavy drinking and push it back down into the moderate range (at least). 

Again, I hope you're feeling much better today and I wish you the best of success. Please stop in and give us an update when time allows!

Ask them about this when you see them next time. Just because you detox and this avoids the symptoms of cold turkey, this doesn't mean that your brain and body are free from the craving. It takes several months for this to disappear and completely be out of your system.

I'm glad you're moving forward and I congratulate you on assembling your team to help you get to sobriety! 

Do take RHGB's advise to heart, as while relapse may not happen all that soon, it can be a real threat down the road. It would be a very good move to make a "Plan B" with your team, one that might include a medication to blunt your desire for alcohol should you "slip" and take a sip. If you look into your experience, what you've heard of friends and family, reports in the media of others, or even the stories right here on Patient, you may well find that subsequent relapses are even worse and more ruinous than the one before. This is because of the Alcohol Deprivation Effect, something that's been fairly well reserched and documented. A lot of that information is in the form of medical studies and rather difficult for the layperson to read. If you'd like to get some more information on ADE, go over to the Cthreefoundation website and click on the link for the Options Save Lives Forum, create an account there and ask for a copy of Dr. Eskapa's book. Someone will get you a PDF copy of it at no charge. If you've any questions about that, please feel free to ask or even send me a private message here on Patient.

All that aside, I believe you are taking solid steps toward success in addressing this problem and wish you the best in your journey towards sobriety!