Hi Annabanana123,

Good to hear that you got through that hardware removal with no increase in pain!

I also had hardware removed, for me it was in my CRPS toe. Originally, I had the front joint in the big toe "fused" because of lack of cartilage and pain. That fusion surgery is what started my CRPS.

During the long period of time where we were all trying to figure out why I was having increased pain after the fusion surgery, and because the CRPS symptoms (toe inflammation/pain) were about the same length as the fusion screw itself, my surgeon removed the screw after we were confident that the bones were solidly fused. Because the screw was right under the surface of the tip of my toe, he did it as a procedure in his office, rather than put me through the hassle and expense of a surgery. Screw came right out, no effect whatsoever on my pain level.

Removing that screw didn't help me at all, but it didn't hurt me either...except for a little discomfort of the procedure of removing it.