I had an epidural injection about 4 months ago due to inflammation and severe pain from swollen L 4 and L5 and was given gabapentin 100 mg to use afterwards for pain...I was on it for maybe a week and then wean off and have not use id since--had no side effects. I believe I may have pinched a nerve in my upper area--as I awoke with shooting pain in my left shoulder...it has persisited all day. I took some meloicam (1 tablet) around 2 pm and put on a Salon Pas OTC patch....still in pain. Question is Can I take 1 gabapentin to help me sleep and then call the prescribing dr. tomorrow.? The pain in on back side of left shoulder and depending on how I move it creates a localize shooting, stabbing pain --not going down my arm ....awaiting your opinion--I see you are from Ireland -- just got my DNA kit back and I am about 50% -- love doing geneaolgy when I m feeling well!