Joint Pian w/ plate in leg

I am a 40 something male who broke my leg in a motorcycle accident. After having an operation to repair the break, a steel plate was fitted from just below the knee about 12 inches long to add strength to the recovery of my leg break .It is now about 8 months since my operation and I am walking ok and I'm done with physical therapy.The problem now is that I am becoming very aware of the steel plate. Sometimes when I bend my leg I feel something go out of place. I know that when I straighten my leg out again it is going to hurt. I've seen the doctor and he gave me a steroid shot to rule out inflamation (inflammation) as a problem. In the 2 weeks since the shot, it seems to have degraded more.  Can anyone tell me if this is just a stage of the recovery and that it will disappear or that I will always have a problem with the plate or should I have it removed (the doctor recommended it stay). Can anyone give me some advise?

[Dr Vinod]

Hello,

A steel plate is a foreign body and sometimes it becomes very prominent for some individuals. With physical therapy and movements you have inflammation of the surrounding tissue which will decrease with time and you will be used to it. Sometimes the inflammation is a continuous problem.

If you do not have any positive effect with steroid injection you get back to therapy and try to see your orthopedic surgeon for an examination that your bone has recovered perfectly.

You can discuss to remove the plate over a period of time.

Take care!