never ending pain

I was told recently that I have glossopharyngeal neuralgia.  Do most people experience pain contsently?  I do not have "twinges" like other patients describe, my pain is all the time.  I can't believe that there is no way to get some relief!  I just started tegretol but am exhauseted from the pain NOW!  I am also fraustrated that it has taken 8 months to find out what is wrong with me.  In the process I also learned that I have thyroid cancer.  Once that was discovered, seemed the doctors focused on that alone!  REALLY.....you'd think a head and neck oncologist could have at least considered this neuralgia as a possibility!!!  Haven't been able to swallow without severe pain for 8 months!  Disappointed in the level of care to this point....and I'm going to some of the best doctors in the country!