I am 50 years old and my bone density test showed beginning signs of moderate loss. I took the once a week fosomax for about 4 weeks. After the second week I developed hip joint pain. The next week my shoulder joints and knees started hurting. After the 4th week the joint pain lessened slightly. Because I was going on a business trip with lots of walking, I decided to stop taking it and experienced some relief immediately so ... I decided to stop altogether. My joint pain is nothing like it was while taking it, BUT I STILL AM EXPERIENCING some JOINT PAIN and it's been 5 months since I stopped. Before I started taking it, I was extremely active and experienced NO joint pain.