Sorry man!! The truth shall set you free.....truth is, even though they gave my wife a "local" and she didn't feel any pain from removing the screws because bones have no nerves (feeling) she could feel the vibrations of the squealing going up her leg. Maybe in today's modern times they use anti sieze or something to keep the screws from dragging against the bone as they are removed. I guess they've changed the way they do it because they left the heads of the screws just below the skin on my wife's leg. At least they won't have to cut you to get to the screw heads!!! But don't worry, you won't feel any pain only those mild vibration going up your leg. You know, like the sounds/noises a long screw makes when it's been in a piece of hardwood for a long time and you're trying to back it out!!
They can leave the screws in your leg if they're below the skin but I don't think they can be left in there if they're exposed, too many opportunities for germs to get in there if the screws are exposed. On my wife they removed the screws so the screws wouldn't interfere with the full range of motion in her ankle.
Enjoy your "goof off" time!!!!
treblig