Hi again Shelly. Yeah as long as your bones have a healthy blood supply (the opposite of osteoarthritis), your body will fill any gaps from the removal of metal with bone, over time.

I broke a tooth on the top-front of my mouth two weeks ago and had to have it pulled. I want to get an implant in 3 months, and the surgeon said my body will regrow bone in the now empty socket. I have two other, three-root molars implanted and each time a bone graft was done.

Anyway it sounds like you'd feel better if the hardware is gone, and if your surgeon supports it, it seems like you could do it. I'm pretty sure that would be an easy surgery and an easy recovery.

Joe

In 2010, I fractured my tibia and fibula. I had plates and screws put in initially to hold the tibia together so it could heal. It was very uncomfortable with all of that hardware, but had to leave it all in for sometime, partly because we were in Montana on a motor home trip.
After we returned to California, I finally found a good orthopedic doctor who removed all the heavy hardware and instead inserted a titanium rod into the tibia itself, which would help it heal from the inside out. The relief of no longer having all of that hardware was amazing, but of course, my leg took a long time to totally heal and I was still experiencing pain, but more tolerable,
The surgeon had told me that I’d probably have a limp or have to use a cane, but after PT and working with it, I was able to walk into his office the day I was released instead of being pushed in a wheelchair.
I realize this is a pretty long story to answer your question, but I think it helps to get the big picture for the best understanding, Best of luck with your healing, do the PT as best you can, and never give up!