Cleo,
You don't have to justify your input, everyone is welcome that is the beauty of this Forum. In your case you brought new, first-hand experience to the discussion - hopefully leading Makenzie to new, improved treatment and less pain.
I cannot imagine having tongue and jaw problems that you had/have. The TN hurts (obviously), but my main eating/mouth problems come from the parasthesia where my lips, cheek and tongue are pins and needles numb. This brings on a fair amount of drooling, slopped drinks(I tend to drink out of bottles to reduce this, plus I shake a lot) and bitten cheek and tongue when I eat.
When there is something neurologically wrong with your tongue it feels, well, Wrong! More so than other body parts I think. Does it also affect your speech as it does mine?
I wish you continued improvement.

Dave.