Hi kassie:
Just check out my website....
http://clik.to/lupus
As it has a section on lupus and pain and treatments for lupus ... all the meds are listed and some of us see pain specialists for managing chronic pain for various reasons.... There are many choices available and no one should have to live day by day with ongoing pain...
Good luck and get back to me personally if you like with any more questions you don't want to put out in the public domain... if there are any i am here to answer... i have had lupus since being a pre teen and am now 54 this year soon!
so know all about it 'all' pretty much.. it has been a rough and rocky journey but so far i am living a quality lifestyle in retirement with my husband; anything is open for discussion.. just fire away!
Good luck to you too!

Hi Kassie
Lupus is so different for each of us.  I was dx'd 10 yrs ago after having my
first child.  I'm 30 now and deal with much more pain now than all those
years before.  I see a family physician who practices pain managment.... I'm
using a long acting opioid and then a short acting for break thru pain.
I've only needed this in the last couple of years... before that, I was able
to get by using Darvocet, high doses of NSAIDs, Ultram, T3's or Vicoden.
Eventually, I was using 12 Norco (10mgs hydrocodone/325mgs apap aka
tylenol)... this is when I progressed to the pure opioid.

I refuse to use steroids for pain control as so many rheumatologists do.
I also take muscle relaxers, an anti-depressant, sleep meds, etc, etc,
etc.... it's a nasty circle.

You need a dr who you can work with and who understands you.  You deserve a
great doctor.
The American Pain Foundation has great information
www.painfoundation.org
They also have a pain notebook which many find extremely beneficial.
http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?file=Publications/Target.htm

More APF Publications
http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?file=Publications/Index.htm

If you're new to lupus, I can send you some great info that I've collected
over the years.
Take care
Nicole