Hi Liza, i am glad to read that you are making great progress, have you thought of trying a heat bag around the painfull area whilst sitting ? then followed with a couple of strong magnets right on the spot thats troubling you, they shouldn't affect those screws from the op' because magnets only attract to steel, and i pretty sure [but best to ask the doc] that they would be made up from stainless steel or titanium.
The magnets will increase circulation just like a massage will do, i have been doing the same thing with heat and the magnets because i am having a total hip replacement in about 8 weeks time and i get constant awfull pain that goes from my hip then right down the outside of my leg to my foot and i have had a lot of relief from just doing that, it might be worth a thought.
all the best
Brian