My mother’s doctor told her last year that she had significant bone loss, or osteoporosis, after taking a bone density test. Apparently, it is not something that a person can really detect themselves, as there is no pain associated with this disease, and it contributes to bones being more prone to breakage later in life. The doctor gave my mother a prescription and told her to start lifting weights to increase the strength of her bones. The prescription she gave her, called Boniva, was supposed to halt the loss of bones and even reverse the loss, and she told my mom that likely, she would have to take this medication for the rest of her life. My mom dislikes taking medication, but when she found out that the side-effects were rare and mild, and best yet, she only had to take the medication once a month. My mom is lucky enough to have this medication covered by her Canadian medical insurance, and most people are covered under basic health plans, but it may be different in
other countries, so I would not know what this medication costs. I can, however, comment on the effects this medication has had on my mom’s osteoporosis.

The tricky thing about osteoporosis is that the loss of bones is not painful until the loss eventually results in breakage of bones. Therefore, the only real way to measure bone loss is through a bone density test. The doctor gave my mom the choice of taking the Boniva as monthly injections or taking a pill once a month, and my mom chose the pill. She also enrolled with a personal trainer at a local health centre so that she could begin a weight training program. She was told to come back every six months for a bone density test. She experienced very few side effects of the medication, with just a slight stomach ache the first two months that she took it.

Six months later, her first bone density test showed that she not only did she not lose any more bone density, but she gained 4% more bone. And last week, at her one year checkup, she had gained just under 10%. For my mom, Boniva is working. She does have to keep taking it to gain the benefits, but in her case, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain, because this medication is free for her and it is obviously working.

>From my mother’s experience with Boniva, I would certainly recommend that anyone suffering from bone loss should ask their doctor for a prescription to try Boniva.

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