Hi I Had Surgery On My Ankle About 4.5 Years

Hi
I had surgery on my ankle about 4.5 years ago, I fractured my distal fibula and have a plate and 6 screws still in my ankle. at the time of the surgery i was told that often after a few years, patients have it removed, however many also choose to leave them in. This is the first year i have noticed a real change in the pain level in my ankle. As the weather gets colder, my ankle gets more and more sore, to the point where slight pressure on anything that is not soft is quite painful. I am wondering what steps i should take. I dont know if i want to go through the pain of surgery again. That healing the process was the most pain i have ever felt