What adverse effect of long-term corticosteroid therapy is most likely responsible for the pain?

Osteoporosis.Corticosteroids are often recommended for individuals with systemic lupus erythematous to relief some of the symptoms.

Osteoporosis is the most likely adverse effect on a long-term use of corticosteroids that can cause severe pain for this client.

All the options listed above are possible adverse effect with long-term use of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids lower bone formation by decreasing osteoblast activity in the bone. This further increases the chances of developing compression fractures in the spine. Hypertension, muscle wasting and truncal obesity are most likely not going to cause severe pain in this client.
Hope this helps.

Osteoporosis-rationale: hypertension, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, and truncal obesity are all adverse effects of long-term corticosteroid therapy; however, osteoporosis commonly causes compression fractures of the spine. hypertension, muscle wasting, and truncal obesity arent likely to cause severe back pain.client needs category: physiological integrityclient needs subcategory: pharmacological and parenteral therapiescognitive level: analysisreference: smeltzer, s.c., et al. brunner and suddarths textbook of medical surgical-nursing, 11th ed. philadelphia: lippincott williams & wilkins, 2008, p. 1064.