As a TN survivor, I can truly relate to what you are going through. I have TN and had MVD surgery about 6 years ago. Now I'm about 95% better. I still have some minor what I call electrical twinges on the right side of my face sometimes but they are nowhere near what they were before surgery. I still take some Carbamazepeine every day to help with those. Carbamazepine works great for me and I try to stay at 600mg a day or less which is the level I can tolerate and still fuction normally. I have been taking it daily for about 4 years now. I also like Carbamazepine because it's tasteless and you can dissolve one in your mouth if you need it in your system fast.

One thing I learned about TN is that it is highly unpredictable.
My twinges come out of nowhere and I have not been able to narrow down what brings them on. I can eat normally but then all of a sudden one day eating/chewing will bring them on. I also have them sometimes at night when I sleep so who knows.....

I just hope you get better and beat this terrible affliction.

Ken