Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler goes back into rehab for painkiller addiction

(HMG) – Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler had been living on the edge again and his bandmates were anxious for him to do about it.  Now Tyler has checked himself back into a rehab clinic to treat an addiction to painkillers he’s had for 10 years due to constant pain.   He previously checked himself in, in May last year for the same issue.

Tyler’s bandmates candidly expressed concern for his well-being, and the future of Aerosmith — after he fell off a stage during a concert in August, breaking his shoulder.

At the time the 61-year old frontman has announced he’s taking a two-year sabbatical away from the band, and that decision plus Steve’s recent health has some of his band-mates concerned.

“I think he needs help, and some attention needs to be applied to his health,” the band’s drummer, Joe Kramer told People.

A recovering addict, Steve battled major addictions in the 70′s and 80′s, but then did rehab and has claimed to be clean ever since. But he’s recently closed himself off from both the band and the world, and this now has Kramer concerned;

“He’s got some bad influences in his life now, and he’s making some very poor choices.” Joe mused.

And such odd behavior has had serious fallout; The band’s 2009 tour was littered with shows that got canceled due to what his band-mates now benignly refer to as Steve’s “erratic and unpredictable” behavior.

“It wasn’t an overnight change. It’s been progressively getting out of hand,” says guitarist Brad Whitford. “His behavior is spinning out of control. I don’t know where he is or what he’s doing, and we’re all kinda worried about his well-being.”

Tyler’s physician, Dr. Brian McKeon, Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at Tufts School of Medicine tells People Magazine the real issue is that Steven has suffered orthopedic injuries over the past decade that have left him with “severe chronic pain” and will require additional surgeries on his knees and feet,

“Managing and controlling his pain has been challenging, and despite our use of alternative therapies and the creation of custom shoes built by a team of engineers from Timberland, Steven’s pain has progressed,” says McKeon, who also is team doctor for the Boston Celtics. “The balance between managing his pain and avoiding addiction is tenuous and difficult and his bravery in persevering through rigorous touring is admirable. As with many athletes, Steven put his performance first as he struggled with acute pain for years.”