Saratogaman,
I suffered with this affliction eight years ago for about two years. Excrutiating electric type shots of pain (mine was on the right side of my head). The pain is known to be the worst pain that anyone can endure. I tried all the medications mentioned above... carbamazepine (allergic reaction) and neurontin (not very successful and very strong medication). I did my own research and found a non-invasive "surgery" called "Gamma knife surgery." Sounds invasive but it is VERY high doses of radiation from 32 ports concentrated on the nerve causing the pain. Very easy procedure, the strongest medicine they give you is valium just to keep you calm. After the procedure i got up walked out of the hospital and drove myself home and been pain free for about 6-7 years. This Gamma knife machine is location is in Boston, New England Medical Center but i understand more and more hospitals are buying them because there has been some success treating brain tumors. There is a much more invasive procedure which involves opening the skull and packing off the 5th nerve. If the pain becomes unbearable, find a Gamma knife clinic as you can have this procedure many times before opting for the invasive surgery.
I would be happy to answer any specific questions you have as my father went through this also so i have some experience.
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